Namibia has ordered Elon Musk’s Starlink to stop operating in the country, saying the satellite internet provider doesn’t have the required telecommunications license. The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has warned citizens against purchasing or using Starlink equipment, calling it illegal. The Namibian government has been taking action against people who have been using Starlink’s satellite internet service without proper authorization. They have reportedly seized people’s devices and started legal cases against them.
Starlink, a satellite internet company owned by SpaceX, started offering its services in Africa in January 2023, beginning in Nigeria. Since then, it has expanded to many other African countries, including Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, and potentially South Africa and Angola. It has been very popular, especially in areas where traditional internet is unreliable.
In October, the SpaceX-affiliated company saw its terminals sell out in Zimbabwe’s capital just two months after receiving regulatory approval to operate there. Authorities in Angola and South Africa have acknowledged being in discussions with Starlink, while Kenya’s largest telecom operator, Safaricom Plc, has also expressed interest
Namibia, a vast country with a population of just 2.6 million, faces major connectivity issues in rural areas. Starlink’s technology could help address these challenges, but its operations remain in limbo while its application for a telecommunications license is under review. The Namibian communications regulator, The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia(CRAN), has been strict in enforcing the rules, seizing illegal devices and urging people to follow the law.
While Starlink has been a major improvement for many Africans, the events in Namibia show that even revolutionary technologies must comply with local laws. Although Starlink has applied for a telecommunications service license in Namibia, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) stated that the application remains under review.
