Information and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus yesterday clarified that the process that led to the rejection of an application by Starlink to provide satellite internet services in the country was above board and in line with Namibian laws.
Theofelus, who was joined by Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) board chairperson Tulimevava Kaunapawa Mufeti at yesterday’s press conference, said the biggest stumbling block in Starlink’s application was the lack of a 51% local ownership, which is a statutory requirement.
Another concern was that Starlink’s application failed to meet basic national security requirements, which the minister said could pose serious national security threats and compromise Namibia’s data sovereignty.
Theofelus also shared that the Elon Musk-owned Starlink company was found to have contravened local laws by offering telecommunications services without a licence.
“The applicant met only three of the six key criteria. I must add that failure to meet even one requirement in the application process is sufficient grounds for the regulator and relevant authorities to reject your application,” said the minister.
Although Starlink managed to pass the frequency availability, technical and financial capacity tests, its lack of 51% local ownership, concerns around national security and general non-adherence to Namibian laws could not be ignored.
Theofelus underscored that for Namibia, the decision underscores a commitment to regulatory oversight and sector control, despite the increasing need for faster internet.
“In this regard, the requirement for Namibian ownership and control serves to ensure that telecommunications service providers remain subject to domestic jurisdiction and are fully accountable to national authorities. Starlink’s proposed business model – based on satellite-delivered services with 100% foreign ownership – raises material regulatory considerations concerning jurisdiction, enforceability of compliance obligations, and the ability of the Authority to exercise effective oversight as required under the Act.”
Unlawful
In 2024, CRAN issued an order against Starlink, accusing it of operating without a licence and instructing it to immediately cease all operations in Namibia.
It also advised the public not to purchase Starlink terminal equipment or subscribe to its services, as doing so would be illegal.
Starlink currently operates in about 25 African countries but has faced regulatory challenges in others, including South Africa, where ownership rules have also blocked its entry.
Musk, who was born in South Africa in 1971 before moving to Canada in the late 1980s and then to the US where he became the world’s richest man, has blamed “racist ownership laws” for his company’s failure to launch in South Africa.
Starlink, the brainchild of American entity SpaceX, aims to bridge the connectivity gap in hard-to-reach and isolated regions. It accomplishes this by beaming broadband internet down from a constellation of satellites orbiting the Earth.
Starlink had applied for both a telecommunications licence and access to radio spectrum, a requirement for operating satellite-based services. The application underwent a public consultation phase last year, drawing hundreds of submissions from industry participants and members of the public.
-ohembapu@nepc.com.na