Namibia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband

Namibia's MTC progresses with network expansion

Under its 2019 National Broadband Policy the government aimed to achieve 95% population coverage by 2024, delivering a service of at least 2Mb/s. The policy has continuing objectives though to 2029, while the associated Implementation Action Plan includes programs through to 2024.

These various measures are intended to reduce the digital divide by facilitating investment in IP-based services, and encouraging the take-up of services.

Mobile network coverage has increased sharply in recent years. By the beginning of 2021, 3G infrastructure provided 89% population coverage while LTE infrastructure provided 79% coverage (compared to only 40% a year earlier). Developments with 5G were set back by unsubstantiated public concerns over the health implications of the technology, though the government has requested the regulator to speed up its 5G development strategy.

The increase in the number of mobile broadband subscribers seen since 2018 has partly been attributed to MTC's 081Every1 campaign which is intended to provide national coverage and to improve data rates over its 3G and LTE networks. Phase 1 of the project was completed by June 2020, while Phase 2 was essentially complete by early 2022. Phase 3 is due to be completed by September 2022.

The work undertaken by MTC contributed to the 8.5% increase in the number of mobile broadband subscribers in the year to June 2021, reaching 1.877 million. The regulator noted that continuing growth in the sector has also been supported by the popularity of prepaid internet-enabled SIM cards compared to the use of PCs and laptops.

Key statistics

Regional Africa Market Comparison
Market characteristics
Market Leaders
Market Challengers
Market Emergents
TMI vs GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview

Telecommunications market
Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authorities
Fixed-line developments
Mobile network developments

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics
Mobile infrastructure
Other infrastructure developments
Mobile data
Mobile broadband
Major mobile operators
Mobile content and applications

Fixed-line broadband market

Introduction
Broadband statistics
Fixed-line broadband technologies

Digital economy

E-commerce
E-government

Fixed-network operator

Telecom Namibia

Telecommunications infrastructure

National fibre backbone networks
Next-Generation Network (NGN)
International infrastructure
Smart cities

Appendix Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities Namibia 2022 (e)
Table 2 Development of telecom sector revenue ($ million) 2011 2019
Table 3 Development of mobile and total telecom sector revenue (ZAR million) 2011 2019
Table 4 Development of telecom sector investment 2010 2019
Table 5 Change in shares by revenue by operator 2013 2020
Table 6 Decline in international fixed and mobile incoming traffic (million minutes) 2013 2021
Table 7 Decline in international fixed and mobile outgoing traffic (million minutes) 2013 2021
Table 8 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 9 Change in the number of mobile prepaid and contract subscribers (thousand) 2012 2021
Table 10 Mobile revenue by services (N$ million) 2012 2021
Table 11 Change in SMS traffic 2011 2021
Table 12 Change in mobile outgoing voice traffic 2012 2021
Table 13 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Table 14 Dedicated and standard mobile broadband subscribers 2011 2021
Table 15 Change in the number of MTC's mobile subscribers (thousand) 2011 2021
Table 16 Development of MTC's mobile revenue (N$ million) 2011 2021
Table 17 Development of MTC's revenue, EBITDA, and capex (N$ million) 2011 2021
Table 18 Development of MTC's mobile ARPU (N$/user/month) 2015 2021
Table 19 Growth in the number of Telecom Namibia's mobile subscribers 2015 2020
Table 20 Development of Paratus Telecom's financial data (N$ million) 2018 2021
Table 21 Internet users and penetration 2011 2019
Table 22 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2011 2027
Table 23 Growth in the number of DSL broadband subscribers 2012 2021
Table 24 Change in the number of DSL connections by data rate 2012 2021
Table 25 Broadband revenue by technology (N$ million) 2012 2020
Table 26 Growth in the number of Telecom Namibia's fixed broadband subscribers 2013 2020
Table 27 Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2014 2021
Table 28 Growth in the number of satellite broadband subscribers 2012 2021
Table 29 Development of Telecom Namibia's financial data (N$ million) 2011 2020
Table 30 Development of Telecom Namibia's revenue by type (N$ million) 2013 2020
Table 31 Change in the number of Telecom Namibia's connections by type 2013 2020
Table 32 Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011 2027
Table 33 Change in fixed outgoing voice traffic 2015 2021
Table 34 Change in Telecom Namibia's switching capacity 2009 2020
Table 35 International internet bandwidth 2011 2018
Table 36 Internet bandwidth per subscriber 2011 2018
Table 37 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity 1995 2010
Table 38 Historic - Telecom sector revenue ($ million) 2007 2010
Table 39 Historic - Fixed-wireless broadband subscribers 2013 2016
Table 40 Historic - Internet users and penetration rate 1996 2010
Table 41 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate 1995 2011
Table 42 Historic - Mobile Termination Rates 2008 2013
Table 43 Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers 2005 2010
Table 44 Historic - MTC mobile financial data (N$ million) 2005 2010
Table 45 Historic - MTC mobile subscribers (thousand) 2005 2010
Table 46 Historic - Telecom Namibia financial data (N$ million) 2006 2010
Table 47 Historic - International internet bandwidth 2003 2010
Table 48 Historic - Internet bandwidth per subscriber 2003 2010
Table 49 Historic - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2009 2011
List of Charts
Chart 1 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index Market Leaders
Chart 2 Africa Market Leaders global ranking
Chart 3 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index Market Challengers
Chart 4 Africa Market Challengers global ranking
Chart 5 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index Market Emergents
Chart 6 Africa Market Emergents global ranking
Chart 7 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 8 Africa Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 Africa Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 Development of telecom sector revenue 2011 2019
Chart 11 Development of mobile and total telecom sector revenue (ZAR million) 2011 2019
Chart 12 Development of telecom sector investment 2010 2019
Chart 13 Change in shares by revenue by operator 2013 2020
Chart 14 Decline in international fixed and mobile incoming traffic 2013 2021
Chart 15 Decline in international fixed and mobile outgoing traffic 2013 2021
Chart 16 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 17 Change in the number of mobile prepaid and contract subscribers 2012 2021
Chart 18 Mobile revenue by services 2012 2021
Chart 19 Change in SMS traffic 2011 2021
Chart 20 Change in mobile outgoing voice traffic 2012 2021
Chart 21 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
Chart 22 Dedicated and standard mobile broadband subscribers 2011 2021
Chart 23 Change in the number of MTC's mobile subscribers 2011 2021
Chart 24 Development of MTC's mobile revenue 2011 2021
Chart 25 Development of MTC's revenue, EBITDA, and capex 2011 2021
Chart 26 Development of MTC's mobile ARPU 2015 2021
Chart 27 Growth in the number of Telecom Namibia's mobile subscribers 2015 2020
Chart 28 Internet users and penetration 2011 2019
Chart 29 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2011 2022
Chart 30 Growth in the number of DSL broadband subscribers 2012 2021
Chart 31 Change in the number of DSL connections by data rate 2012 2021
Chart 32 Broadband revenue by technology 2012 2020
Chart 33 Growth in the number of Telecom Namibia's fixed broadband subscribers 2013 2020
Chart 34 Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2014 2021
Chart 35 Growth in the number of satellite broadband subscribers 2012 2021
Chart 36 Development of Telecom Namibia's financial data 2011 2020
Chart 37 Change in the number of Telecom Namibia's connections by type 2013 2020
Chart 38 Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011 2027
Chart 39 Change in fixed outgoing voice traffic 2015 2021
Chart 40 Change in Telecom Namibia's switching capacity 2009 2020
Chart 41 International internet bandwidth 2011 2018
List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1 Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Africa
Exhibit 2 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 Africa Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 Africa Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 Africa Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 Map of Namibia

Executive Summary

The Namibia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses report includes all relevant publisher research data and analysis. Covering trends and developments in telecommunications, mobile, internet, broadband, infrastructure and regulation. Please review the Executive Summary and Table of Contents for more details.