CRAN reviews 1,180 public submissions on Starlink licence application

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has received 1,180 written public submissions on Starlink’s application for a telecommunications licence, with the overwhelming majority supporting the bid as regulators continue to assess compliance, ownership requirements, and broader national interest considerations.

According to CRAN, 1,164 submissions were in favour of Starlink entering the Namibian market, while 16 opposed the application. The regulator says both supporters and opponents raised substantive issues that must be addressed before a final decision is taken.

Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, applied in June 2024 to offer services in Namibia. The application includes a request for an exemption from local ownership requirements, which generally mandate majority local ownership for telecommunications licences. Observer24 reports that the licence process cannot be concluded until the Minister of Information and Communication Technology makes a determination on that exemption.

The matter has drawn heightened attention following enforcement action taken late last year. In November 2024, CRAN issued a cease-and-desist order against Starlink and warned the public not to purchase or use its equipment, stating that the service was operating without a valid licence under Namibian law, according to Investing.com.

Minister of Information and Communication Technology Emma Theofelus pictured with Elon Musk in New York in September 2024.

CRAN’s Executive for Communication and Consumer Relations, Mufaro Nesongano, said the authority is currently consolidating all public submissions received. Once the process is complete, the compiled feedback will be shared with Starlink, which will be given 14 days to respond to the concerns raised.

Nesongano further stated that CRAN will announce a decision on the licence application by the end of the first quarter of 2026, following a comprehensive review. He added that the evaluation process is being conducted in line with regulatory requirements and in the public interest.

Beyond licensing and ownership, analysts have raised questions about the broader implications of satellite-based internet services. Technology and telecommunications analyst Soni Nrupesh has cautioned that Starlink’s pricing and operating model could limit accessibility for ordinary households unless strong local partnerships and accountability mechanisms are enforced, potentially favouring commercial users such as remote lodges and large-scale farms.

There are also growing discussions around data sovereignty and national security. Satellite internet services typically route traffic through international networks and ground stations outside the host country, which can complicate national oversight of communications and data flows. The Times of India reports that countries such as India have responded to similar concerns by imposing strict licensing conditions, including domestic data storage and routing requirements.

Starlink’s Global Privacy Policy outlines how user data is collected, stored, and retained for operational and legal purposes. As with many global technology firms, such data may be subject to United States law and international data-sharing agreements. Research on Starlink, published on Semantic Scholar, notes that robust regulatory frameworks are critical to managing data security and sovereignty risks.

Internationally, Starlink has faced regulatory scrutiny in several jurisdictions. The Washington Post reports that U.S. policymakers and security experts have raised concerns about the use of satellite internet in sensitive environments, particularly where services may bypass traditional network monitoring systems.

CRAN’s review process is expected to determine whether Starlink’s proposed operations align with national regulatory standards, ownership rules, and long-term policy objectives for connectivity and data governance.