Members of the Namibia Wetlands Route in the Zambezi region have expressed the urgent need for satellite internet provider Starlink to operate in Namibia.

They argue that their lodges are located in remote areas, making it difficult to access reliable internet services for daily operations, which also negatively affects their clients.

Speaking on Sunday, Namibia Wetlands Route chairman Simone Micheletti said poor or non-existent internet connectivity is causing a loss of customers.

"Guests are dissatisfied with the internet quality. They complain to their tour agents, who then choose not to book accommodations at local lodges," he explained.

Micheletti noted that tourists struggle to understand why remote lodges in Botswana and Zambia offer uninterrupted internet, while in Namibia, they face connectivity issues, preventing them from making video calls, chatting with family, or working online.

“Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have access to Starlink services. These countries are our main competitors,” he said.

He stressed that allowing Starlink to operate in Namibia would significantly benefit tourism businesses and the national economy.

“We need stable internet for cloud-based operations, secure payments, and remote system management. Due to increasing crime, most lodges now require CCTV surveillance, which depends on a reliable internet connection. Without it, lodges are vulnerable to burglaries, and visitor safety is at risk,” Micheletti said.

He urged Namibia to embrace innovation and allow more efficient service providers to prevent businesses from falling behind.

“Local internet service providers charge excessively high prices, yet their coverage and quality are far behind Starlink. We need Starlink or any other provider that can not only support the tourism industry but also provide affordable, high-quality internet for rural communities and young people in Namibia,” he added.

Starlink’s Application Still Pending

Starlink, a subsidiary of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, provides broadband internet via a network of approximately 5,500 satellites launched since 2019.

However, in December, Namibia’s Communications Regulatory Authority (Cran) ordered Starlink to halt operations in the country, citing illegal service provision.

Cran’s chief executive, Emilia Nghikembua, confirmed on Sunday that Starlink has submitted an application, which remains under review.

She explained that Namibia’s Communications Act includes ownership restrictions, stating that no licensee may be controlled by a non-Namibian citizen or company. Additionally, foreign ownership in any licensee must not exceed 49%, unless specifically authorised by the minister.

“The minister may authorise ownership exceptions in advance. Once compliance with Section 46 of the Act is resolved, Cran will proceed with Starlink’s application,” Nghikembua stated.