Namibia's Communications Regulatory Authority has denied Starlink an operating license, blocking Elon Musk's satellite internet service from entering the southern African nation. Namibia has denied Elon Musk's Starlink from operating in the country, dealing a significant blow to the satellite internet provider's expansion efforts across southern Africa. The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) confirmed Tuesday that it has denied Starlink an operating license after months of negotiations. The decision comes as Starlink has been aggressively expanding across the African continent, securing licenses in Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia and several other nations. Namibia had been seen as a key market given its vast rural areas with limited internet connectivity. CRAN said Starlink failed to meet local ownership requirements and other compliance conditions set out in Namibia's telecommunications licensing framework. Under Namibian law, foreign telecommunications providers must demonstrate meaningful local participation and comply with data localization requirements. "The authority has determined that the applicant does not meet the licensing criteria established ...