Data has once again emerged as the financial backbone of Namibia’s telecommunications sector, cushioning operators against the steady erosion of traditional voice revenues. It also demonstrates a deeper structural shift in how consumers connect.
Latest figures from Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) show mobile operators generated $52 million (N$934 million) in data revenue in the fourth quarter of 2025, a modest but telling 1% increase from $51 million (N$928 million) in the previous quarter.
The growth came as voice revenue slipped by 1% to $38 million (N$694 million), extending a gradual decline that has defined the sector in recent years.
“Data remains the main driver of mobile revenue growth. Voice revenue declined marginally while SMS revenue remained stagnant,” CRAN said in its quarterly bulletin.
The figures paint a clear picture that Namibia’s telecoms market is no longer voice-led. Instead, it is increasingly shaped by rising demand for mobile broadband, streaming, and digital services.
Subscriber growth reinforces this trend. Total active SIM cards rose 4% to 2.79 million, driven by a 5% jump in prepaid users, while postpaid subscriptions edged up by 1%.
Mobile broadband subscriptions also climbed 4%, with dongle and router usage surging 10% from a smaller base, an indication of growing data consumption beyond smartphones.
Yet, even as the user base expands, internet penetration remained flat at 62%, suggesting that access is improving at a slower pace than overall subscriber growth.
Investment trends, however, tell a more cautious story. Capital expenditure in the sector dropped sharply from $25 million (N$455 million) in the third quarter to $7.2million (N$128 million) in Q4. CRAN attributed the decline to the cyclical nature of large infrastructure projects rather than weakening operator confidence.
Beyond mobile, fixed broadband emerged as a standout performer.
Subscriptions grew 8%, powered by rapid expansion in fixed wireless and enterprise connectivity solutions. Fixed wireless subscriptions surged 40%, while MetroNet/Ethernet services jumped 210%, albeit from a low base. Fibre (FTTx) connections also recorded steady growth of 3%.
At the same time, legacy technologies continued to fade with fixed-line subscriptions declining 1% while ADSL dipped, and VoIP usage plunged 79% due to number consolidation.
The data reinforces a decisive transition that as voice revenues take a battering, Namibia’s telecom future is being rewritten by data, infrastructure evolution, and the race to meet rising digital demand.
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