Elon Musk ordered Starlink to suspend services in Namibia due to licensing issues

Namibia has ordered Starlink Inc. to immediately halt all operations in the southwest African country, saying billionaire Elon Musk’s satellite internet service was operating without the required telecommunications license, Bloomberg reported.

Namibia’s communications regulator has warned the public against purchasing Starlink terminals or subscribing to its services, saying such activities are illegal.

“Investigators have already confiscated illegal terminals from consumers and initiated criminal proceedings with the Namibian police in this regard,” the authority said.

Elon Musk’s Starlink made its debut in Africa in January 2023, with Nigeria as its first launch location. The next-generation satellite internet provider promised to revolutionize high-speed internet connectivity in Africa’s most populous country and has ambitious plans to expand across the continent.

As of October 2023, the service was officially available in seven African countries: Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Malawi and Zambia. Since then, Starlink has expanded its reach to over a dozen African countries, including Mauritius and Sierra Leone.

Demand for Starlink services has surged across sub-Saharan Africa in recent years, driven by the challenges local operators face in providing high-speed broadband internet, particularly in remote areas far from urban centers. In some cases, illegal trafficking and activation of Starlink terminals have been resorted to.

In October, the SpaceX-affiliated company found its terminals in Zimbabwe’s capital were sold out, just two months after it received regulatory approval to operate there. Authorities in Angola and South Africa have confirmed they are in talks with Starlink, while Kenya’s largest telecoms operator, Safaricom Plc, has also expressed interest.

In Namibia, a vast country larger than Texas with a population of just 2.6 million, many communities are located far from major hubs, creating significant connectivity challenges.

Although Starlink has applied for a telecommunications services license in Namibia, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) stated that the application is still under review. According to CRAN, the import and use of Starlink devices are considered illegal until a license is granted.

According to the company’s website, Starlink services are scheduled to launch in Namibia in 2025.