• Namibia’s telecom regulator plans a phased switch-off of 2G and 3G networks starting in 2026.
• The country aims to rely on 4G, 5G, and low-Earth-orbit satellites to expand broadband access.
• High rollout costs and device affordability remain key challenges to adoption.

Namibian telecom operators are expected to begin a gradual shutdown of 2G and 3G networks starting this year, according to the country’s telecom regulator. The move is part of a broader strategy to transition toward 4G, 5G, and satellite technologies to deliver broadband services amid accelerated digital transformation.

In a Jan. 27 statement, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia said 2G and 3G technologies no longer meet modern standards for service quality and connectivity. The regulator also pointed to the high costs associated with maintaining these legacy networks.

By contrast, the authority said 5G can significantly improve broadband services while enabling a wide range of applications across other sectors of the economy. These include transport and logistics, finance, trade, agriculture, health, education, as well as mining and energy.

Namibia is also turning to satellite technology, opting for low-Earth-orbit systems. These rely on constellations that operate much closer to Earth than traditional geostationary satellites. The regulator said it granted licenses earlier this month to local providers to operate OneWeb’s satellite capacity. These firms will deliver services to end users or to other service providers.

According to CRAN chief executive Emilia Nghikembua, the technology is particularly suited to providing connectivity and services to offshore, remote, and rural areas. She said it will play a key role in reducing Namibia’s digital divide. She also noted that the continued development of direct-to-device capacity will lead to closer integration between satellite and mobile technologies.

The initiative aligns with government efforts to improve network performance as demand for high-speed connectivity rises. Namibia is targeting a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps by October 2026.

Deployment and adoption challenges

These ambitions face significant hurdles. For operators, the cost of rolling out 4G and 5G nationwide remains high. According to the GSMA’s Mobile Connectivity Index 2025, 2G and 3G networks currently cover 100% and 95% of Namibia’s population, respectively. By comparison, 4G coverage stands at 86.5%, while 5G coverage is still at 0%, despite the commercial launch of the service in August 2025 by operator MTC in four cities.

An Ericsson study published in 2022 estimated the base cost of deploying 5G in a country at between $3 billion and $8 billion. The Swedish technology group added that an additional 20% to 35% in investment is typically required to extend coverage nationwide.

Beyond network availability, adoption by the population remains another challenge, particularly due to access costs. 2G and 3G services are available on low-cost feature phones used mainly for calls, SMS, and mobile money. Moving to 4G or 5G requires smartphones, which are significantly more expensive.

This device cost is one of the main barriers to mobile service adoption, especially mobile internet, in many countries, according to the GSMA. Other factors include the affordability of 5G data plans, digital skills levels, perceptions of service relevance, and overall customer experience.

Isaac K. Kassouwi