A public campaign to overturn the rejection of Starlink’s telecommunications licence application has failed after the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) dismissed all 624 requests seeking a review of its decision.
The outcome leaves Starlink’s plans to launch satellite internet services in Namibia facing continued uncertainty despite growing public support for the technology.
CRAN Chief Executive Officer Emilia Nghikembua said the regulator received an unprecedented 624 reconsideration requests after it rejected Starlink Internet Services Namibia’s licence application on 23 March 2026.
However, the overwhelming majority of the submissions were found to be legally defective.
According to CRAN, 622 requests failed to meet the procedural and jurisdictional requirements necessary to trigger a valid reconsideration process because they did not clearly identify the decision being challenged, provide specific grounds for reconsideration, or contain sufficient information for reassessment.
“The Authority received 624 reconsideration requests from members of the public. Of these, 622 did not meet the procedural and jurisdictional requirements necessary to trigger a valid reconsideration process,” Nghikembua said.
The remaining two requests were considered on their merits but were also dismissed after the regulator found no new evidence and no material error in its original ruling.
CRAN further rejected a separate reconsideration application submitted by Starlink Internet Services Namibia itself, ruling that it had been filed after the statutory deadline.
The regulator also dismissed a public petition submitted on 17 June 2026 seeking a review of the decision, stating that it too was lodged after the reconsideration deadline had expired.
At the centre of the dispute are Namibia’s ownership and control requirements for telecommunications operators.
CRAN maintains that Starlink’s application does not comply with Section 46 of the Communications Act, which regulates ownership structures within the telecommunications sector.
While acknowledging the potential benefits of low Earth orbit satellite technology for expanding internet access, the regulator said compliance with Namibian law remains a prerequisite for market entry.
