Namibia has rejected an appeal from Starlink to change its operational rules, according to Techpoint Africa. The decision comes amid discussions on various topics, including Moov Africa's telecom service challenges and Naspers' initiative to launch free AI services for businesses in South Africa.

Starlink's attempt to establish operations in Namibia has faced a setback as the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) rejected the company's appeal against a previous licensing denial. This decision leaves Starlink without a means to enter a key telecom market in southern Africa.

Vodacom has gained majority control of Safaricom, acquiring a 55% stake in the company. This development comes alongside the Communications Authority's decision to penalise telecommunications companies for subpar service. Additionally, MTN has stated that protests regarding migration have not affected its operations, according to Techpoint Africa.

South Africa's Yoco is expanding its services beyond payment processing through a new artificial intelligence deal. This development is part of a broader discussion that includes the Central Bank of Nigeria's data localisation rule, which has raised concerns within the fintech sector, and Visa's plans to integrate AI for shopping with cards in South Africa, according to Techpoint Africa.

The National Communications Commission (NCC) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) are intensifying their enforcement regarding changes in telecom ownership in Nigeria. This development is part of a broader discussion that includes topics such as Spiro's $55 million investment in electric vehicles, potential US-Iran peace talks that may affect MTN's frozen assets, and the preloading of DStv Stream on Samsung TVs.

Namibia's Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN) has denied Starlink permission to operate in the country on two occasions, first in March 2026 and again later. The reasons for these refusals have not been detailed in the available information.