Namibia regulator upholds rejection of Starlink licence

Namibia’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN) has upheld its March 2026 decision to deny a licence to Starlink Internet Services Namibia PTY Ltd. The regulator dismissed 622 of 624 public requests for reconsideration because they failed to meet procedural requirements under the Communications Act, and rejected two that did meet the threshold as they presented no new evidence.

Starlink’s own appeal, filed on June 8, 2026, was ruled inadmissible for being submitted after the 30‑day deadline. The regulator cited concerns over national security, data sovereignty, incomplete regulatory compliance and the lack of a required local ownership stake. CRAN CEO Emilia Nghikembua emphasized that while satellite technology can aid connectivity, it must operate within the legal framework.

The decision was supported by a petition signed by 5,500 members of the public, which was also rejected as late. No further review is permitted under current law.