The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has ordered the immediate suspension of Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider Starlink operations in the country. This stop order was communicated to Starlink on November 26, 2024 (December 6) due to not having the necessary license to provide telecommunication services.
According to Reuters, Starlink has applied for a telecommunications service license in Namibia, but this license has not yet been issued and the said application is under review; However, CRAN claims that, according to its investigation, Starlink is already operating in Namibia without obtaining the necessary license.
CRAN has urged the public to refrain from purchasing Starlink equipment or subscribing to its services, stressing that such practices are currently illegal in Namibia. The agency says it has seized unauthorized Starlink equipment from consumers and referred criminal cases to the Namibian police.
Related articles:
Starlink has faced similar problems before in other African countries; For example, Cameroon seized Starlink equipment at ports earlier this year due to licensing issues.
SpaceX, Starlink’s parent company, has not commented on the Namibian government’s actions as of press time.
