FEATURED COMPANIES
- Africa Online Namibia
- Cell One (Leo, Orascom)
- iWay
- MTN Business Namibia
- MWEB Namibia
- Powercom
- MORE
Namibia was slow to introduce competition in the mobile market, with a second operator not licensed until 2006. However, since then the market has developed strongly, with effective competition between MTC Telecom Namibia and Paratus Telecom. Mobile penetration is well above the regional average, and recent investment in LTE has also pushed up mobile broadband penetration.
For its part the government has an ambitious Broadband Policy aiming to provide 95% population coverage by 2024. This will be supported by the telcos which continue to invest in their own extensive network objectives. 5G services have been delayed, partly due to unsubstantiated public concerns for the technology which caused the government to order an environmental assessment of 5G in mid-2020 while also requesting that the regulator speed up its 5G development strategy.
Fixed-line services remained a monopoly of Telecom Namibia until mid-2019 when fixed number portability was introduced. Economic pressure has encouraged the government to pursue its plans to sell its stakes in Telecom Namibia and MTC, as well as in a number of other enterprises.
Although Namibia's internet and broadband sector is reasonably competitive, with a small number of active ISPs, its development was held back by high prices for international bandwidth caused by the lack of a direct connection to international submarine fibre optic cables. This improved after operators invested in diversifying terrestrial access routes to adjacent countries.
The publisher notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.
On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.
Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.
The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.
Key Developments:
Companies mentioned in this report:
Telecom Namibia; Mobile Telecommunications (MTC); Cell One (Leo, Orascom); Powercom; MTN Business Namibia; MWEB Namibia; Africa Online Namibia; Internet Technologies Namibia; iWay.
For its part the government has an ambitious Broadband Policy aiming to provide 95% population coverage by 2024. This will be supported by the telcos which continue to invest in their own extensive network objectives. 5G services have been delayed, partly due to unsubstantiated public concerns for the technology which caused the government to order an environmental assessment of 5G in mid-2020 while also requesting that the regulator speed up its 5G development strategy.
Fixed-line services remained a monopoly of Telecom Namibia until mid-2019 when fixed number portability was introduced. Economic pressure has encouraged the government to pursue its plans to sell its stakes in Telecom Namibia and MTC, as well as in a number of other enterprises.
Although Namibia's internet and broadband sector is reasonably competitive, with a small number of active ISPs, its development was held back by high prices for international bandwidth caused by the lack of a direct connection to international submarine fibre optic cables. This improved after operators invested in diversifying terrestrial access routes to adjacent countries.
The publisher notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.
On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.
Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.
The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.
Key Developments:
- Telecom Namibia upgrades its VSAT hub to provide more reliable connectivity for users in remote areas;
- City of Windhoek's 5G and fibre plans opposed as uncompetitive;
- Advisory panel encourages privatisation of Telecom Namibia and MTC;
- Namibia approves Alphabet's Project Look trials;
- Government calls for the regulator to speed up 5G development strategy;
- Government launches the National Broadband Policy and Implementation Action Plan, aiming to provide a universal 2Mb/s services by 2024;
- MTC embarks on phase 2 of its N$1 billion 081Every1 network expansion project;
- Paratus Telecom launches N$150 million infrastructure investment through to 2021;
Companies mentioned in this report:
Telecom Namibia; Mobile Telecommunications (MTC); Cell One (Leo, Orascom); Powercom; MTN Business Namibia; MWEB Namibia; Africa Online Namibia; Internet Technologies Namibia; iWay.
Note: Product cover images may vary from those shown
FEATURED COMPANIES
- Africa Online Namibia
- Cell One (Leo, Orascom)
- iWay
- MTN Business Namibia
- MWEB Namibia
- Powercom
- MORE
1 Key statistics
2 Regional Africa Market Comparison
2.1 TMI vs GDP
2.2 Mobile and mobile broadband
2.3 Fixed and mobile broadband
3 Country overview
4 COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector
4.1 Economic considerations and responses
4.2 Mobile devices
4.3 Subscribers
4.4 Infrastructure
5 Telecommunications market
5.1 Market analysis
6 Regulatory environment
6.1 Regulatory authorities
6.2 Fixed-line developments
6.3 Mobile network developments
7 Mobile market
7.1 Market analysis
7.2 Mobile statistics
7.3 Mobile infrastructure
7.4 Other infrastructure developments
7.5 Mobile data
7.6 Mobile broadband
7.7 Major mobile operators
7.8 Mobile content and applications
8 Fixed-line broadband market
8.1 Introduction and statistical overview
8.2 Broadband statistics
8.3 Fixed-line broadband technologies
9 Digital economy
9.1 E-commerce
9.2 E-government
10 Fixed-network operator
10.1 Telecom Namibia
11 Telecommunications infrastructure
11.1 National fibre backbone networks
11.2 Next-Generation Network (NGN)
11.3 International infrastructure
11.4 Smart Cities
12 Appendix Historic data
13 Glossary of abbreviations
14 Related reports
List of Tables
Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities Namibia 2020 (e)
Table 2 Development of telecom sector revenue ($) 2010 2018
Table 3 Development of telecom sector revenue (N$) 2010 2018
Table 4 Development of telecom sector investment 2010 2018
Table 5 Decline in fixed and mobile incoming traffic 2013 2018
Table 6 Decline in fixed and mobile outgoing traffic 2013 2018
Table 7 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025
Table 8 Change in the number of mobile prepaid and contract subscribers 2013 2018
Table 9 Change in SMS traffic 2009 2018
Table 10 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2009 2025
Table 11 Mobile broadband subscribers (regulator data) 2013 2018
Table 12 Dedicated and standard mobile broadband subscribers 2009 2018
Table 13 Change in the number of MTC's mobile subscribers 2010 2019
Table 14 Development of MTC's mobile revenue 2010 2019
Table 15 Development of MTC's EBITDA and capex 2010 2019
Table 16 Development of MTC's mobile ARPU 2015 2019
Table 17 Growth in the number of Telecom Namibia's mobile subscribers 2015 2018
Table 18 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2021
Table 19 Growth in the number of DSL broadband subscribers 2012 2018
Table 20 Change in the number of DSL connections by data rate 2013 2018
Table 21 Telecom Namibia fixed broadband subscribers 2013 2018
Table 22 Development of Telecom Namibia's financial data 2010 2018
Table 23 Change in the number of Telecom Namibia's connections by type 2013 2018
Table 24 Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2010 2021
Table 25 Change in Telecom Namibia's switching capacity 2009 2018
Table 26 International internet bandwidth 2010 2018
Table 27 Internet bandwidth per subscriber 2010 2017
Table 28 Historic - Telecom sector revenue ($) 2007 2009
Table 29 Historic - Telecom sector revenue (N$) 2007 2009
Table 30 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity 1995 2009
Table 31 Historic - Fixed-wireless broadband subscribers 2013 2016
Table 32 Historic - Internet users and penetration rate 1996 2009
Table 33 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate 1995 2009
Table 34 Historic - Mobile Termination Rates 2008 2013
Table 35 Historic - Internet users and penetration 2010 2015
Table 36 Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers 2005 2009
Table 37 Historic - MTC mobile financial data 2005 2009
Table 38 Historic - MTC mobile subscribers 2005 2009
Table 39 Historic - Telecom Namibia financial data 2006 2009
Table 40 Historic - International internet bandwidth 2003 2009
Table 41 Historic - Internet bandwidth per subscriber 2003 2009
List of Charts
Chart 1 Overall Africa view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 2 Southern Africa - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 3 Africa Top-tier Telecoms Maturity Index (Market Leaders)
Chart 4 Southern Africa Telecoms Maturity Index by country
Chart 5 Southern Africa mobile subscriber penetration versus mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 Southern Africa fixed and mobile penetration rates
Chart 7 Development of telecom sector revenue ($) 2007 2018
Chart 8 Development of telecom sector revenue (N$) 2010 2018
Chart 9 Development of telecom sector investment 2010 2018
Chart 10 Decline in fixed and mobile incoming traffic 2013 2018
Chart 11 Decline in fixed and mobile outgoing traffic 2013 2018
Chart 12 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025
Chart 13 Change in the number of mobile prepaid and contract subscribers 2013 2018
Chart 14 Change in SMS traffic 2009 2018
Chart 15 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2009 2025
Chart 16 Mobile broadband subscribers (regulator data) 2013 2018
Chart 17 Mobile broadband subscribers (regulator data) 2009 2018
Chart 18 Change in the number of MTC's mobile subscribers 2010 2019
Chart 19 Development of MTC's mobile revenue 2010 2019
Chart 20 Development of MTC's EBITDA and capex 2010 2019
Chart 21 Development of MTC's mobile ARPU 2015 2019
Chart 22 Growth in the number of Telecom Namibia's mobile subscribers 2015 2018
Chart 23 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2021
Chart 24 Change in the number of DSL connections by data rate 2013 2018
Chart 25 Development of Telecom Namibia's financial data 2010 2018
Chart 26 Change in the number of Telecom Namibia's connections by type 2013 2018
Chart 27 Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2010 2021
Chart 28 Change in Telecom Namibia's switching capacity 2009 2018
List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 Southern Africa - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
Exhibit 3 Map of Namibia
2 Regional Africa Market Comparison
2.1 TMI vs GDP
2.2 Mobile and mobile broadband
2.3 Fixed and mobile broadband
3 Country overview
4 COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector
4.1 Economic considerations and responses
4.2 Mobile devices
4.3 Subscribers
4.4 Infrastructure
5 Telecommunications market
5.1 Market analysis
6 Regulatory environment
6.1 Regulatory authorities
6.2 Fixed-line developments
6.3 Mobile network developments
7 Mobile market
7.1 Market analysis
7.2 Mobile statistics
7.3 Mobile infrastructure
7.4 Other infrastructure developments
7.5 Mobile data
7.6 Mobile broadband
7.7 Major mobile operators
7.8 Mobile content and applications
8 Fixed-line broadband market
8.1 Introduction and statistical overview
8.2 Broadband statistics
8.3 Fixed-line broadband technologies
9 Digital economy
9.1 E-commerce
9.2 E-government
10 Fixed-network operator
10.1 Telecom Namibia
11 Telecommunications infrastructure
11.1 National fibre backbone networks
11.2 Next-Generation Network (NGN)
11.3 International infrastructure
11.4 Smart Cities
12 Appendix Historic data
13 Glossary of abbreviations
14 Related reports
List of Tables
Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities Namibia 2020 (e)
Table 2 Development of telecom sector revenue ($) 2010 2018
Table 3 Development of telecom sector revenue (N$) 2010 2018
Table 4 Development of telecom sector investment 2010 2018
Table 5 Decline in fixed and mobile incoming traffic 2013 2018
Table 6 Decline in fixed and mobile outgoing traffic 2013 2018
Table 7 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025
Table 8 Change in the number of mobile prepaid and contract subscribers 2013 2018
Table 9 Change in SMS traffic 2009 2018
Table 10 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2009 2025
Table 11 Mobile broadband subscribers (regulator data) 2013 2018
Table 12 Dedicated and standard mobile broadband subscribers 2009 2018
Table 13 Change in the number of MTC's mobile subscribers 2010 2019
Table 14 Development of MTC's mobile revenue 2010 2019
Table 15 Development of MTC's EBITDA and capex 2010 2019
Table 16 Development of MTC's mobile ARPU 2015 2019
Table 17 Growth in the number of Telecom Namibia's mobile subscribers 2015 2018
Table 18 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2021
Table 19 Growth in the number of DSL broadband subscribers 2012 2018
Table 20 Change in the number of DSL connections by data rate 2013 2018
Table 21 Telecom Namibia fixed broadband subscribers 2013 2018
Table 22 Development of Telecom Namibia's financial data 2010 2018
Table 23 Change in the number of Telecom Namibia's connections by type 2013 2018
Table 24 Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2010 2021
Table 25 Change in Telecom Namibia's switching capacity 2009 2018
Table 26 International internet bandwidth 2010 2018
Table 27 Internet bandwidth per subscriber 2010 2017
Table 28 Historic - Telecom sector revenue ($) 2007 2009
Table 29 Historic - Telecom sector revenue (N$) 2007 2009
Table 30 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity 1995 2009
Table 31 Historic - Fixed-wireless broadband subscribers 2013 2016
Table 32 Historic - Internet users and penetration rate 1996 2009
Table 33 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate 1995 2009
Table 34 Historic - Mobile Termination Rates 2008 2013
Table 35 Historic - Internet users and penetration 2010 2015
Table 36 Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers 2005 2009
Table 37 Historic - MTC mobile financial data 2005 2009
Table 38 Historic - MTC mobile subscribers 2005 2009
Table 39 Historic - Telecom Namibia financial data 2006 2009
Table 40 Historic - International internet bandwidth 2003 2009
Table 41 Historic - Internet bandwidth per subscriber 2003 2009
List of Charts
Chart 1 Overall Africa view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 2 Southern Africa - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 3 Africa Top-tier Telecoms Maturity Index (Market Leaders)
Chart 4 Southern Africa Telecoms Maturity Index by country
Chart 5 Southern Africa mobile subscriber penetration versus mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 Southern Africa fixed and mobile penetration rates
Chart 7 Development of telecom sector revenue ($) 2007 2018
Chart 8 Development of telecom sector revenue (N$) 2010 2018
Chart 9 Development of telecom sector investment 2010 2018
Chart 10 Decline in fixed and mobile incoming traffic 2013 2018
Chart 11 Decline in fixed and mobile outgoing traffic 2013 2018
Chart 12 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025
Chart 13 Change in the number of mobile prepaid and contract subscribers 2013 2018
Chart 14 Change in SMS traffic 2009 2018
Chart 15 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2009 2025
Chart 16 Mobile broadband subscribers (regulator data) 2013 2018
Chart 17 Mobile broadband subscribers (regulator data) 2009 2018
Chart 18 Change in the number of MTC's mobile subscribers 2010 2019
Chart 19 Development of MTC's mobile revenue 2010 2019
Chart 20 Development of MTC's EBITDA and capex 2010 2019
Chart 21 Development of MTC's mobile ARPU 2015 2019
Chart 22 Growth in the number of Telecom Namibia's mobile subscribers 2015 2018
Chart 23 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2021
Chart 24 Change in the number of DSL connections by data rate 2013 2018
Chart 25 Development of Telecom Namibia's financial data 2010 2018
Chart 26 Change in the number of Telecom Namibia's connections by type 2013 2018
Chart 27 Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2010 2021
Chart 28 Change in Telecom Namibia's switching capacity 2009 2018
List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 Southern Africa - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
Exhibit 3 Map of Namibia
Note: Product cover images may vary from those shown
- Telecom Namibia
- Mobile Telecommunications (MTC)
- Cell One (Leo, Orascom)
- Powercom
- MTN Business Namibia
- MWEB Namibia
- Africa Online Namibia
- Internet Technologies Namibia
- iWay
Note: Product cover images may vary from those shown
