Musk’s Starlink rallies support as Namibia weighs licensing bid

Elon Musk’s Starlink Inc. urged Namibians to provide comment on proposed amendments to the country’s regulations, as part of the satellite internet operator’s efforts to obtain a licence without ceding ownership.

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia is considering amending a law that requires telecommunications companies to have 51% domestic ownership. The regulator published Starlink’s licence applications for public comment on 28 November, with submissions due by 12 December.

Read:
Vodacom partners with Musk’s Starlink for Africa broadband
Musk’s Starlink courts luxury airlines to grow in-flight Wi-Fi business
South Africa pushes rule review that would ease Starlink entry

Starlink’s vice-president of business operations, Lauren Dreyer, took to Musk’s social-media platform X to call on Namibians to provide comment on the process. The company is the first to seek 100% foreign ownership in the country, the Namibian Sun reported in July.

“We have already established a Namibian company, and are discussing agreements with local retailers and resellers, and stand ready to pay all required fees and taxes,” Dreyer said on Monday.

Last year, Namibia ordered Starlink to immediately cease operations, after people were found to be using the service illegally in the country.

Demand for Starlink services in sub-Saharan Africa has soared in recent years as local operators often struggle to provide fast broadband internet, especially in areas far from cities, and in some cases people have traded and activated the terminals illegally.

Many African nations have given in to pressure by Starlink to ease local-ownership requirements, in a quest for fast and reliable access to the internet.

Dreyer cited examples of regulatory barriers being removed in countries including Zimbabwe, Kenya, Botswana and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Fortunately, Namibian law already gives the power to grant similar ownership flexibility so a similar future is possible for Namibia,” she said.

Read:
Lesotho launches Starlink amid US pressure and economic turmoil
Musk’s Starlink licence decision up to South African regulator
SA lawmakers slam Starlink plan over ‘back door’ entry

South Africa, where Musk was born, has been reviewing its regulations to provide an alternative to 30%-ownership rules in the form of an equity equivalent programme, in terms of which a company invests in services, businesses and schools without giving away any of its equity.

In Namibia, a mainly desert nation, many people live far from hubs, diminishing connectivity.

For telecommunications services requiring an individual licence, Namibia’s current law – the Communications Act – generally caps foreign ownership at 49%.

The Namibian regulator expects to make a decision on amendments to the rules by the end of the first quarter, Mufaro Nesongano, a spokesman for the authority, said in response to questions.

© 2025 Bloomberg

Follow Moneyweb’s in-depth finance and business news on WhatsApp here.