Namibia was one of the last countries in Africa to introduce competition in the mobile communications sector when a second network finally launched in 2007. Despite this, the country had already achieved a market penetration rate above the African average. The other mobile network was partially privatised in 2006 and has launched Third Generation (3G) services. The fixed-line incumbent, Telecom Namibia, quietly entered the lucrative mobile market as the third player but was put on hold by the regulator until the new ICT Bill brings clarity about fixed-mobile convergence, among other issues. Several WiMAX networks currently under development will boost Internet connectivity and bring additional competition to the voice market once Internet telephony (VoIP) is deregulated. With an extensive fibre optic backbone, the country is well positioned to remain one of the most developed telecommunications markets in Africa.
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| 1. | | Synopsis |
| 2. | | Key statistics |
| 3. | | Telecommunications market |
| 3.1 | | Overview of Namibia’s telecom market |
| 4. | | Regulatory environment |
| 4.1 | | Communications division |
| 4.2 | | Regulatory authority |
| 4.2.1 | | Namibia Communications Commission (NCC) |
| 4.3 | | Post and Telecommunications Bill 1999 |
| 4.4 | | Draft Communications Bill 2002 |
| 4.5 | | Telecom sector liberalisation in Namibia |
| 5. | | Fixed network operator in Namibia |
| 5.1 | | Telecom Namibia Ltd |
| 6. | | Telecommunications infrastructure |
| 6.1 | | National telecom network |
| 6.1.1 | | Wireless local loop (WLL) |
| 6.2 | | International infrastructure |
| 7. | | Data market |
| 7.1 | | Data services |
| 7.2 | | Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) |
| 7.3 | | Teleconferencing |
| 7.4 | | VSAT networks |
| 8. | | Broadband and Internet market |
| 8.1 | | Overview |
| 8.2 | | Internet connectivity |
| 8.3 | | Namibia’s ISP market |
| 8.4 | | Overview of selected ISPs |
| 8.4.1 | | Verizon Business Namibia (formerly UUNet Namibia) |
| 8.4.2 | | Africa Online |
| 8.4.3 | | M-Web Namibia |
| 8.4.4 | | Internet Technologies Namibia (ITN) |
| 8.4.5 | | iWay |
| 8.5 | | SchoolNet Namibia |
| 8.6 | | Broadband market |
| 8.6.1 | | Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) |
| 8.6.2 | | Wireless broadband |
| 9. | | Convergence |
| 9.1 | | Broadcasting market |
| 9.1.1 | | Free-to-Air (FTA) television |
| 9.1.2 | | Pay TV |
| 9.1.3 | | Digital TV |
| 9.1.4 | | Cable TV |
| 9.2 | | Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony |
| 9.3 | | Next-Generation Networks (NGN) |
| 9.4 | | E-services |
| 10. | | Mobile communications |
| 10.1 | | Overview of Namibia’s mobile market |
| 10.2 | | Mobile technologies |
| 10.2.1 | | 3G |
| 10.3 | | Major mobile operators |
| 10.3.1 | | MTC |
| 10.3.2 | | Cell One (PowerCom) |
| 10.4 | | Mobile voice services |
| 10.4.1 | | Satellite mobile |
| 10.5 | | Mobile content and applications |
| 10.5.1 | | Mobile banking |
| 11. | | Related reports |
Table 1 – Country statistics – 2006 |
| Table 2 – Telephone network statistics – 2006 |
| Table 3 – Internet provider statistics – 2006 |
| Table 4 – Internet user statistics – 2006 |
| Table 5 – Mobile statistics – 2006 |
| Table 6 – National telecommunications authorities |
| Table 7 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1995 - 2006 |
| Table 8 – Internet users and penetration rate – 1996 - 2006 |
| Table 9 – Internet host computers – 1996 - 2005 |
| Table 10 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1995 - 2006 |
