The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has dismissed an appeal by Starlink Internet Services Namibia against an earlier rejection of its licence application.

This followed a process of reconsideration after CRAN declined Starlink's application in March.
Making the announcement, CRAN Chief Executive Officer Emilia Nghikembua said 622 of the 624 requests for reconsideration submitted by members of the public failed to meet the legal requirements needed to reopen the matter.

The remaining two did not present new evidence or identify any material errors in the original decision.

CRAN also dismissed Starlink's own reconsideration application, saying it was submitted outside the legally prescribed 30-day period.

"In this case, the date of the decision was 23 March, which means that the 30 days to submit the application lapsed on 22 April. Neither the Communications Act nor the applicable regulations provide CRAN with authority to condone late applications for reconsideration. Consequently, the authority was legally precluded from considering the merits of the application, and that application too has been dismissed.”

The regulator also stated that Starlink failed to meet three of the six licensing criteria under the Communications Act.

These are ownership and control requirements, compliance history, and national security and public safety considerations.

A petition signed by 5,500 members of the public was also rejected after being submitted after the statutory deadline.

Nghikembua stressed that the decision should not be interpreted as opposition to innovation or satellite technology, noting that low-Earth orbit satellites remain a viable solution to improve connectivity in underserved areas.

She added that CRAN's role in the matter has now concluded and that aggrieved parties may approach the High Court for a review.