• Government plans N$78 million ($4.6 million) to expand telecom access in underserved areas

• Funds will support new towers and public Wi-Fi in schools and health facilities

• Gaps persist, with about 12% of the population still outside 4G coverage

Namibia plans to invest 78 million Namibian dollars, or about $4.6 million, in the coming months to reduce the country’s digital divide, with a focus on expanding telecom infrastructure in underserved areas.

The funding forms part of a broader 682 million Namibian dollar budget allocated to the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) for the 2026/2027 fiscal year. The budget was presented last week to Parliament by Minister Emma Theofelus.

According to the minister, telecom towers will be deployed across multiple regions to extend network coverage to remote areas and connect more vulnerable populations to the Internet. The program also includes plans to provide free public Wi-Fi in selected institutions, aimed at improving access and supporting education and healthcare services.

The announcement comes two weeks after state-owned Telecom Namibia secured a 405 million Namibian dollar social loan to support its five-year transformation strategy. The plan is designed to expand broadband access and strengthen mobile network capacity nationwide. Despite recent investments by both the government and telecom operators, connectivity gaps remain significant.

To accelerate network expansion, the government is also turning to satellite technology, with licenses granted to providers earlier this year. In March 2025, authorities launched a Universal Service Fund (USF), backed by an initial investment of 145 million Namibian dollars, to extend mobile coverage across the country.

According to the GSMA, 4G coverage reached 86.5% in 2025, compared with full coverage for 2G and 95% for 3G, which are now considered outdated. Data from the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) shows that about 360,000 people—roughly 12% of the population—were not covered by 4G as of February 2024. The World Bank estimates Namibia’s population at 3.03 million.

In terms of usage, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) estimates mobile penetration at 79.7% in 2024, compared with 64.9% for Internet access.

Isaac K. Kassouwi