What are the initial troubleshooting steps to resolve MacBook startup error 2003f?

The first steps involve checking your internet connection. Ensure your Wi-Fi network is stable, using a strong signal, and is a standard WPA2 personal network (enterprise or public networks can cause issues). Try restarting your Wi-Fi router. Then, attempt Internet Recovery again by holding down Command (⌘) + Option (⌥) + R immediately after pressing the power button until you see a spinning globe. If Wi-Fi still fails, try connecting your MacBook directly to your router via an Ethernet cable (using a USB-to-Ethernet adapter if necessary) and then attempt Internet Recovery.