Starlink Wins Strong Public Backing Despite Namibia License Setback
June 10th 2026
- Namibia’s telecom regulator received 624 submissions requesting a review of its March 2026 decision to deny Starlink an operating license.
- Earlier consultations showed overwhelming support for Starlink, with 1,164 of 1,180 submissions backing the satellite internet provider.
- Authorities said Starlink failed to meet three of six regulatory requirements but left the door open for a revised application.
Namibia’s telecommunications regulator now faces growing calls to revisit its decision to deny an operating license to U.S. satellite internet provider Starlink. Authorities issued the decision in March 2026 after concluding that the company failed to satisfy all regulatory requirements.
According to local media reports, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) said on Monday, June 8, that it had received 624 submissions from members of the public and other stakeholders who opposed the decision. Starlink Internet Services Namibia subsequently filed its own request for a review.
“CRAN acknowledges the public interest in this matter and wishes to assure all stakeholders that the review requests received will be processed in accordance with established legal and regulatory procedures,” Mufaro Nesongano, CRAN’s Manager of Communications and Consumer Relations, told local publication The Brief.
Persistent Consumer Interest in Starlink
Consumer demand for Starlink has attracted regulatory attention before. In November 2024, the regulator intervened to prohibit Namibian consumers from purchasing Starlink equipment and using its services in the country after strong public interest emerged while the company still lacked authorization to operate.
Moreover, during the regulator’s assessment of Starlink’s license application, CRAN received 1,180 submissions from industry stakeholders and members of the public in mid-December 2025. Of those submissions, 1,164 supported the application, while only 16 opposed it.
Strong consumer interest reflects growing demand for broadband connectivity in a market where internet coverage remains uneven.
According to CRAN, about 360,000 Namibians, or nearly 12% of the population, lacked 4G coverage as of February 2024. At the same time, Namibian telecom operators, particularly incumbent operator Telecom Namibia, continue to face challenges related to service quality and network availability.
Door Remains Open Despite Rejection
Namibian authorities rejected Starlink’s application after determining that the company satisfied only three of the six criteria required under current regulations. Authorities cited concerns related to national security and data sovereignty, shortcomings in regulatory compliance, and failure to meet local ownership requirements.
Nevertheless, officials have consistently indicated that they remain open to Starlink’s eventual entry into the market if the company addresses the outstanding issues.
“All applicants are encouraged to revise their submissions, review the factors that led to the rejection, and then resubmit their applications to the authority, which we will gladly reassess. We fully welcome all Internet service providers into the country in support of our national development objectives,” Information and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus said in March 2026.
As a result, the review process could offer Starlink another opportunity to secure market access in Namibia, provided the company resolves the regulatory concerns identified by authorities.
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