Namibia has rejected applications from Starlink, the satellite internet provider owned by Elon Musk, for a telecommunications service licence and access to radio spectrum, according to a notice published in the country’s government gazette.
The notice, dated March 23, did not provide reasons for the decision, Reuters reported.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia stated that it may review the decision “on its own motion or on a petition filed by an aggrieved party” within 90 days. A spokesperson for the regulator said a formal statement would be released later.
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SpaceX, the parent company of Starlink, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Starlink is already operating in several African countries but has encountered regulatory hurdles in some markets, along with resistance from state-owned telecom operators.
In November 2024, Namibia’s regulator issued a cease-and-desist order against Starlink, stating that it had been operating in the country without a valid licence.
Authorities also warned consumers not to purchase Starlink equipment and reported that illegal terminals had been confiscated. SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment at that time.
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