The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia announced on Thursday that it has issued a cease-and-desist order to Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider, Starlink, for operating in the country without the necessary license.
Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, provides satellite internet in several African nations but has faced regulatory hurdles in some regions, as well as opposition from state-run telecom monopolies.
Although Starlink has submitted an application for a telecommunications service license in Namibia, the regulator has yet to approve it, as the application remains under review.
“Following an investigation, CRAN has found that Starlink is operating a network within Namibia without the required telecommunications license,” the authority said in a statement. “On 26 November 2024, the Authority issued a cease-and-desist order, instructing Starlink to immediately halt all operations in Namibia.”
In response to the illegal operations, CRAN also advised the public against purchasing Starlink terminal equipment or subscribing to its services, as both activities are now considered illegal in the country.
The regulator revealed that its investigators have already confiscated illegal Starlink terminals from consumers and have initiated criminal cases with the Namibian police.
Earlier this year, Cameroon took similar action, ordering the seizure of Starlink equipment at its ports due to the lack of a proper license.
