Starlink ordered to cease operations in Namibia

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has issued a cease-and-desist order to SpaceX satellite Internet provider Starlink for operating in the country without a license.

"Following an investigation, CRAN has established that Starlink is operating a network within Namibia without the required telecommunications license. On 26 November 2024, the Authority issued a cease-and-desist order to Starlink, instructing the company to immediately cease all operations in Namibia," CRAN said in a statement.

Furthermore, the regulatory ordered the confiscation of all Starlink terminal equipment across the country.

It advised Namibians to avoid importing or using Starlink equipment until the licensing process and compliance with local laws is guaranteed.

"The public is hereby advised not to purchase Starlink terminal equipment or subscribe to its services, as such activities are illegal under Namibian law," the regulator continued.

CRAN further announced its commitment to ensuring that all telecommunications services in Namibia comply with the legal framework.

Additionally, it mentioned that criminal cases have been lodged with the Namibian Police against any violators.

CRAN CEO Emilia Nghikembua warned that legal action would be taken against anyone contravening the regulation as enshrined in the Communications Act (No8 of 2009).

Related:Starlink suspends Nigerian tariff hike

Starlink has submitted a license application but CRAN has not yet granted the license.

"Until such time that a license is granted, the importation of Starlink terminal equipment and the use of its services violate Sections 37(1) and 38(2)(a) of the Act. These actions constitute a regulatory offence under Section 114(1)," Nghikembua concluded.

It will be interesting how Namibia and Starlink will navigate this impasse considering that the country's President Nangolo Mbumba, met with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, in September 2024.

Starlink's African rifts

Starlink currently operates in Burundi, Botswana, Ghana, Benin, Rwanda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Kenya, South Sudan and Eswatini. However, it has encountered regulatory hurdles in some countries.

Just recently, the Internet service provider had to temporarily stop accepting new orders for its residential kits in Nigeria, pending price increase approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission.

CRAN CEO Emilia Nghikembua. (Source: CRAN)

Nigerian subscribers received an email about a price increase, stating that Starlink's standard residential plan with a 1TB fair usage policy would now cost 75,000 Nigerian Naira (US$45) per month, up from N38,000 ($22.80), though the price for Starlink kits would remain unchanged.

Related:Elon Musk hosts African leaders while Starlink faces challenges in Kenya

However, that announcement was not well received, prompting the company to put the price increase on hold while it addressed regulatory concerns. The price increase was meant to have taken effect at the end of October 2024.

Similarly, Cameroonian authorities in April 2024 banned the import of Starlink satellite Internet kits and seized equipment at the border.

Starlink has, however, been seeing some positives in other countries – in Kenya, the company launched a rental option allowing Kenyans to rent its kits for 1,950 Kenyan Shillings (US$15) per month in August 2024.

Due to high demand, the company had to halt new sign-ups in some Kenyan counties earlier this month.