Namibia has rejected a licence application from satellite internet provider Starlink, citing concerns over regulatory compliance, data sovereignty and local ownership requirements.
The decision was announced this week by the country’s communications authorities, who said the company failed to meet all the criteria required to operate in Namibia’s telecommunications sector.
Information and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus and Tulimevava Mufeti, chairperson of the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia, outlined the reasons for the rejection at a press conference in Windhoek.
Officials said the application was assessed against six key requirements, including competition, technical and financial capacity, spectrum availability, ownership and control, national security considerations and compliance history.
While Starlink met several of the conditions — notably demonstrating sufficient technical capability and financial resources, as well as the availability of required radio frequency spectrum — regulators concluded that it satisfied only three of the six criteria overall.
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Authorities acknowledged that the project had the potential to boost competition and expand connectivity, particularly in underserved and rural areas where traditional broadband infrastructure remains limited.
However, significant concerns were raised over issues of national defence and public security, particularly relating to data sovereignty and regulatory oversight.
Officials said the satellite-based nature of Starlink’s operations posed challenges for ensuring that data generated within Namibia remains subject to local jurisdiction and regulatory control.
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The regulator also cited compliance issues, noting that Starlink had operated in the country without a licence and failed to respond adequately to previous regulatory inquiries, raising questions about its adherence to national laws.
A major sticking point was Namibia’s ownership requirement for telecommunications providers. Local regulations mandate that at least 51 percent of such companies must be owned by Namibian shareholders.
Authorities said the applying entity is fully foreign-owned, a factor that weighed heavily in the decision to deny the licence.
Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX founded by Elon Musk, has been expanding rapidly across Africa and currently operates in about 30 countries on the continent.
The company submitted its application to Namibian authorities in June 2024 as part of its broader strategy to bridge connectivity gaps using low-Earth orbit satellite technology.
Despite the rejection, officials signalled that the door remains open for a revised application.
“All applicants are invited to review the elements that led to the rejection and resubmit their applications,” Theofelus said, emphasising the government’s willingness to work with service providers that meet regulatory standards.
Namibia has prioritised expanding internet access as part of its digital transformation agenda, particularly in rural areas where connectivity remains limited.
Starlink has argued that its technology could play a key role in closing the digital divide, estimating that it could extend reliable internet access to a majority of underserved schools and healthcare facilities, as well as more than one million people who remain offline.
The company also highlights the resilience of satellite networks in emergency situations, noting their ability to maintain communications during natural disasters such as floods and droughts.
However, analysts say that balancing the benefits of expanded connectivity with concerns over sovereignty, regulation and local participation remains a key challenge for governments across Africa.
For now, Namibia’s decision underscores a growing trend among regulators seeking to assert greater control over emerging digital infrastructure, even as they pursue broader access to technology.
Whether Starlink revises its proposal to meet local requirements will likely determine its prospects for entering the Namibian market in the near future.
