Namibia on Monday rejected a request for Elon Musk’s Starlink to operate satellite internet services in the country.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia said the licence application came through Starlink Internet Services Namibia, its local subsidiary.
Starlink provides high-speed internet worldwide using thousands of low Earth orbit satellites, reaching even the most remote locations.
The regulator offered no explanation for its refusal, stating only that full reasons could be requested from the authority.
AFP contacted CRAN for comment but had not received a response as of Monday evening, leaving questions unanswered.
CRAN noted Starlink’s Namibian unit has no local ownership, a factor in regulatory concerns and legal compliance.
Starlink said it plans to partner with local companies to generate jobs and economic opportunities in Namibia.
The company has faced a similar setback in South Africa, where local ownership rules blocked its market entry.
South African telecom firms must provide 30 percent equity to historically disadvantaged groups, part of apartheid-era redress policies.
Musk, born in South Africa, has refused to cede ownership, describing the black empowerment requirement as “openly racist.”
The Namibian rejection marks another obstacle for Starlink as it seeks expansion across southern Africa’s complex telecom markets.
Industry analysts say the decision highlights the growing challenge of foreign tech firms navigating local equity and regulatory requirements.
Starlink’s ambitions clash with national policies designed to balance innovation with economic justice, fueling ongoing debate across the region.
The outcome leaves residents in rural Namibia waiting for high-speed internet, while Musk’s global satellite network faces renewed scrutiny.