Namibia’s telecommunications regulator is facing mounting pressure to reconsider its decision to block Elon Musk’s Starlink after receiving hundreds of requests from citizens and stakeholders seeking a review of the ruling.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) confirmed that it has received 624 applications challenging its March 2026 decision to reject Starlink Internet Services Namibia’s bid for a telecommunications operating licence.
The wave of objections shows the growing popularity of Starlink in Namibia, where large parts of the country still struggle with patchy internet coverage and limited broadband access.
“CRAN acknowledges the public interest in this matter and wishes to assure all stakeholders that the review requests received will be processed in accordance with established legal and regulatory procedures,” CRAN’s Manager of Communications and Consumer Relations, Mufaro Nesongano, said.
The regulator said all review applications would be handled under the Communications Act of 2009 before a final determination is made.
Public support collides with regulation
The backlash follows months of strong public support for Starlink’s entry into Namibia.
During a public consultation process in December 2025, CRAN received 1,180 submissions regarding the company’s licence application. Of those, 1,164 supported Starlink’s entry into the market, while only 16 opposed it.
Consumer interest in the service has been building for years. In November 2024, Namibian authorities moved to stop consumers from purchasing and using Starlink equipment after demand surged despite the company lacking authorisation to operate in the country.
The enthusiasm reflects frustration with connectivity challenges that continue to affect many Namibians.
According to CRAN, around 360,000 people, representing nearly 12% of Namibia’s population, lacked access to 4G coverage as of February 2024. Rural communities, farms and remote settlements remain among the areas most affected by limited network availability.
The issue has turned Starlink’s licence application into a broader debate about digital inclusion and access to affordable internet services.
Why Starlink was rejected
CRAN rejected Starlink’s application for a comprehensive telecommunications service licence and radio frequency spectrum licence in March after finding that the company met only three of the six requirements set out under Namibia’s regulatory framework.
The regulator said Starlink satisfied technical, financial and competition-related criteria but fell short on local ownership, regulatory compliance and national security requirements.
A central obstacle is Namibia’s local ownership law, which requires telecommunications service providers to be at least 51% Namibian-owned.
Starlink, which is owned by Musk’s SpaceX, remains fully foreign-owned and did not apply for an exemption from the ownership requirement through the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.
Regulators also cited previous compliance concerns, noting that Starlink services had been used in Namibia before obtaining the necessary licences.
The company later described the rejection as a “disappointing outcome”.
Security debate intensifies
The decision has also triggered debate over whether security concerns are being applied consistently across the telecommunications sector.
Local commentator Dietrich Mouton argued that Namibia already relies on foreign technology companies for critical communications infrastructure.
“This is a double standard as Huawei provides us with telecommunications infrastructure like 5G,” Mouton told local media.
“If data privacy was really the concern, it would apply to all companies that deal with our telecommunications and software infrastructure.”
His comments reflect a growing sentiment among Starlink supporters who believe regulators should focus on creating safeguards and compliance mechanisms rather than blocking the company outright.
Africa’s wider Starlink dilemma
The dispute mirrors a broader challenge unfolding across Africa as governments attempt to balance connectivity needs with regulatory control over strategic communications infrastructure.
While countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi and Zambia have approved Starlink’s operations, others have imposed stricter requirements linked to ownership structures, taxation, licensing and national security.
Technology analyst Nrupesh Soni said the debate should no longer focus on whether Starlink belongs in Namibia but on the conditions under which it should be allowed to operate.
“There is a tendency to read CRAN’s rejection of Starlink as a country turning its back on technology. It is nothing of the sort,” Soni said.
“Starlink should be in Namibia. The only thing still worth arguing about is the terms on which it arrives.”
Soni pointed to Uganda as an example of a country that initially resisted Starlink before reaching a compromise that required local infrastructure integration, device registration, tax compliance and a physical in-country presence.
“That tells me something the Namibian debate keeps missing: this is a company that will follow local rules when the rule is one it is actually able to meet,” he said.
What happens next
Although regulators rejected the application, Namibian authorities have repeatedly stressed that the door remains open if Starlink addresses the concerns raised during the review process.
Information and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus previously encouraged unsuccessful applicants to revise their submissions and reapply for consideration.
The latest review requests could therefore give Starlink another pathway into the Namibian market.
The outcome will be closely watched beyond Namibia’s borders, as governments across Africa grapple with the same question: how to expand internet access rapidly while preserving national control over critical telecommunications infrastructure.