Namibia told to keep Starlink at the door, family drama stays home

Somebody in Namibia thinks letting Starlink in is a terrible family decision. Trade Forum of Namibia CEO Rodney !Hoaeb argued against foreign telecom competition. This followed Starlink's announcement that it awaits government approval to operate there. !Hoaeb believes these calls ignore Namibia's small market and strategic interests. He claimed large telecom investments lack commercial viability due to limited numbers. He cited MTC's original shareholders leaving for that reason, leading to local ownership. Even South African firms skipped the market, he noted, because infrastructure needs a big customer base.

He defended current local telecom companies for improving national connectivity and funding social projects. !Hoaeb used a metaphor about family disputes. He said you do not bring a stranger into your house to punish your own family. He urged solving grievances internally. He stated that nobody in Namibia knows Starlink's infrastructure, databases, financials, or decision-making power. He warned that any deal would be one-sided.

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia will give a final decision on Starlink by the end of the first quarter next year. The regulator received over eleven hundred eighty public submissions on the application. A vast majority, one thousand one hundred sixty-four, supported Starlink's entry. Only sixteen submissions opposed it.