The news comes just days after fellow African nation Chad approved Starlink to begin operations in the country Namibia’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN) has ordered Starlink, the satellite internet provider owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, to cease business for operating without license in the country. While Starlink has filed an application for an operating license, the CRAN has yet to grant it, and has cautioned consumers against purchasing or using Starlink equipment. “The public is hereby advised not to purchase Starlink terminal equipment or subscribe to its services, as such activities are illegal,” said an emailed statement. “Investigators have already confiscated illegal terminals from consumers and have opened criminal cases with the Namibian police in this regard.” The escalation highlights Starlink’s ongoing challenges in establishing a foothold in Africa, where it faces regulatory hurdles and resistance from a number of state-owned telecoms monopolies. However since the start of 2023, Starlink has been launched in 15 African countries. Starlink’s services, which are promoted as helping to bridge the digital divide in rural and underserved areas, are often seen as disruptive to local telecoms markets. Indeed, this month Starlink has faced allegations of predatory pricing in Kenya, aimed at luring away customers from local service providers, though the national competition regulator says it will not be investigating the issue. Disruption from Starlink’s presence in national telecoms markets will only increase as the company begins to offer direct-to-device connectivity, which it is currently testing in the US with T-Mobile. It is worth noting that claims of operating without a licence is nothing new for Starlink. Similar issues have arisen in other nations, such as Cameroon, where authorities have also seized Starlink equipment for operating illegally.
Namibia halts Starlink operations amid licensing dispute
