Namibia’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN) has issued a cease-and-desist order to Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, citing unlicensed operations within the country.
CRAN, in a press statement seen by Techparley on Friday, November 29, 2024, noted that Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, was found to be operating without the required telecommunications license.
“Following an investigation, CRAN established that Starlink is operating a network within Namibia without the necessary authorization,” the regulator stated.
CRAN’s order, issued on November 26, instructed Starlink to immediately stop all services in the country.
The regulator also warned the public against purchasing Starlink terminal equipment or subscribing to its services, emphasizing that such actions are illegal in Namibia.
Starlink, which currently operates in around 13 African countries, has encountered regulatory hurdles in various regions, often facing resistance from state-owned telecom monopolies.
The company has submitted an application for a telecommunications service license in Namibia, but CRAN clarified that the application remains under review.
This is not the first regulatory challenge for Starlink in Africa. In April 2024, Cameroon ordered the seizure of Starlink equipment at its ports due to similar licensing issues.
As of the time of publication, SpaceX has not issued a statement in response to CRAN.
