Namibia has rejected an application by Elon Musk-owned Starlink for a licence to provide satellite internet services, according to multiple reports. The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) announced the decision without giving reasons but noted that Starlink's Namibian subsidiary did not meet local ownership requirements.
Key Takeaways
Namibia has rejected Elon Musk's Starlink application for a telecommunications licence due to lack of local ownership. This follows regulatory challenges faced by Starlink in South Africa over similar issues.
- Namibia rejects Starlink’s licence application without stating reasons
- Local subsidiary lacks required Namibian ownership
- Cran may reconsider decision within 90 days
- Starlink faces similar regulatory hurdles in South Africa
The rejection follows regulatory challenges faced by Starlink in South Africa and other African nations. In 2024, Cran issued an order against Starlink for operating without a licence, instructing it to cease operations immediately. The regulator stated that the decision could be reconsidered either on its own motion or upon petition within 90 days.
Starlink operates in about 25 African countries but has faced regulatory hurdles elsewhere due to local ownership laws. Namibian law mandates that at least 51% of shares in any telecommunications company must be owned by citizens or local entities, a policy aimed at increasing local participation and addressing racial inequality.
Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa, has previously criticized similar policies as 'racist ownership laws,' claiming they hinder foreign investment. The Namibian government's decision aligns with broader regional efforts to enforce compliance with local equity rules for telecommunications companies.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 4 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.