Editorial: Starlink’s promise — and the regulatory tightrope Namibia must walk

Starlink’s arrival in Namibia carries undeniable promise. For a country with vast distances, scattered settlements and stubborn connectivity gaps, low-earth-orbit satellite internet could transform how businesses operate, how schools teach and how communities access services. For entrepreneurs, farmers, logistics firms and tourism operators in remote areas, reliable broadband is not a luxury — it is infrastructure. Yet disruption rarely arrives without consequences. Starlink’s speed and reach threaten to undercut existing telecom operators that have invested heavily in terrestrial networks, towers and spectrum under strict regulatory obligations. If unchecked, the playing field could tilt unfairly, discouraging future investment in infrastructure and weakening local operators that still shoulder universal service responsibilities. The challenge for Namibia’s regulator is not to block innovation, but to manage it. A balanced framework must ensure Starlink complies with licensing, taxation, consumer protection and data sovereignty requirements, while recognising the unique nature of satellite services. Regulation should encourage competition without allowing regulatory arbitrage. The goal should be coexistence, not conquest. If handled wisely, Starlink can complement national networks rather than cannibalise them. It can extend reach where fibre and mobile struggle, while local operators focus on urban and commercial centres.