Photo credit: www.yahoo.com
In a significant regulatory action, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has issued a cease-and-desist order against Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, for operating without the necessary licensing in the country.
Starlink, part of SpaceX, has expanded its services across several countries in Africa. However, its operations have encountered various regulatory hurdles in different jurisdictions, often facing pushback from state-controlled telecommunications companies.
While Starlink has initiated the process by applying for a telecommunications service license in Namibia, CRAN has yet to grant this approval, as the application remains under consideration.
According to a statement from CRAN, “Following an investigation, it was determined that Starlink is running a network in Namibia without the required telecommunications license.” In light of these findings, the authority issued a notice on November 26, 2024, instructing Starlink to halt all activities immediately.
SpaceX representatives have not yet provided a response regarding this order.
The regulatory body has also cautioned Namibian citizens against purchasing Starlink’s terminal equipment or subscribing to its services, emphasizing that such actions are deemed illegal. Authorities have begun confiscating unauthorized terminals from users and are pursuing criminal charges with local law enforcement.
Earlier this year, similar concerns arose in Cameroon, where authorities ordered the confiscation of Starlink equipment from ports due to licensing issues.
Source
www.yahoo.com