Musk’s Starlink Ordered to Cease Operations in Namibia
Regulator Says Satellite Internet Provider Lacked Proper License
Namibia’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN) has issued a cease-and-desist order to Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, instructing the company to immediately halt all operations in the country. The regulator found Starlink was operating without a required telecommunications license.
Starlink, the satellite internet arm of SpaceX, has rapidly expanded across Africa, but it has encountered regulatory hurdles in some countries and pushback from existing state-controlled telecom monopolies.
“Following an investigation, CRAN has established that Starlink is operating network without the required telecommunications license,” CRAN said in a statement. On November 26, 2024, the Authority issued the cease-and-desist order.
SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
CRAN also warned the public against purchasing Starlink equipment or subscribing to its services, emphasizing that such actions are illegal in Namibia. Its investigators have already seized illegal terminals from consumers and initiated criminal cases in collaboration with the Namibian police.
This development follows a similar incident earlier this year when Cameroon ordered the seizure of Starlink equipment at various ports due to a lack of licensing.
The Namibian regulator’s decision represents a major setback for Starlink’s plans to expand its satellite internet coverage in Africa.
How might this decision by the Namibian government impact its relationship with other international technology companies, and could it set a precedent for similar actions in other African countries? [[1](https://www.reuters.com/technology/musks-starlink-ordered-cease-operations-namibia-2024-11-28/)]
**Interviewer:** Joining us today is Alex Reed, a technology analyst specializing in African markets. Alex Reed, Namibia has just ordered Starlink to cease operations, citing a lack of proper licensing. What are your thoughts on this decision, and how do you think Namibian citizens will react? Some might argue that access to affordable and reliable internet is crucial for development, while others might support the government’s stance on upholding regulations. What are the potential implications of this move for both Starlink and the Namibian people?
