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Namibia has moved a step closer to formally approving Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has opened the licensing process, publishing the company’s applications in the government’s Official Gazette on Nov. 28 and inviting public comments for two weeks.
Licensing review underway
Starlink is seeking a national telecommunications license to offer high-speed internet through its low-Earth orbit satellites. The service would connect households and businesses nationwide through its user terminals and could support existing mobile operators by adding capacity in remote areas.
The company also applied for a spectrum license covering the 10.7–14.7 GHz bands. CRAN did not release details on proposed fees or financial terms. This review follows a cease-and-desist order earlier this year, when the regulator instructed Starlink to halt operations after determining it had begun offering services without the required telecom license, even though an application had been filed.
Connectivity gaps drive interest
CRAN Director General Emilia Nghikembua has said Namibia is looking at satellite-based services to close gaps in rural connectivity. Speaking in June, she noted that large farming regions and isolated lodges remain difficult to serve. “Some areas stretch across more than a million hectares,” she said. “Terrestrial networks simply cannot reach all of them.”
Although 91 percent of residents have access to 2G, 3G or 4G networks, coverage is largely concentrated in populated areas. Roughly 9 percent of Namibians remain outside mobile service zones due to the country’s size and sparse settlement patterns.
Starlink’s possible entry comes at a time of heightened competition. The market has long been controlled by MTC and Telecom Namibia, but Paratus, once centered on fixed-line services, introduced its own 4G mobile network in September 2025.
Starlink’s broader push in Africa
Starlink began operating in Africa in 2022, using its growing satellite network to reach customers in remote communities. Musk, whose net worth is estimated at $468 billion by Bloomberg, has said the company plans to expand wherever it receives legal clearance.
It has expanded its presence in Africa through new partnerships. Last month, Vodacom agreed to offer Starlink’s high-speed service to businesses on the continent. In October, Starlink and Cisco partnered with Rwanda to enhance connectivity and digital skills. This year, Starlink received regulatory approval in Lesotho, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
