Grace Ashiru
The Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has instructed Starlink to halt its operations in the country due to a failure to comply with local licensing requirements. CRAN revealed that the SpaceX subsidiary has been providing services in Namibia without obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals, thereby prohibiting the public from purchasing its services.
Under Namibian law, all telecommunications providers are required to secure a licence from CRAN before commencing operations. Although Starlink has submitted an application for this licence, the process is still ongoing, and approval has not yet been granted. The regulator stressed that this licensing requirement applies to all entities, regardless of their global presence, in order to maintain fair competition between local and international operators.
Starlink has transformed Internet connectivity in many regions, but its swift expansion into new markets has sometimes encountered hurdles with regulatory frameworks. In April 2024, Cameroon imposed a ban on Starlink kits and seized equipment at the border over regulatory concerns. Despite the Starlink website indicating a 2025 launch date for the region, its terminals and equipment have already been confiscated by the police.
