Namibia has injected $2.3m (N$42.1 million) into rural connectivity, targeting its most isolated regions in a high-stakes bid to close one of Africa’s most stubborn digital divides.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) allocation that falls under Phase II of the Universal Service Fund (USF) is primarily aimed at expanding telecommunications infrastructure in rural and underserved areas.
Telecom Namibia CEO, Stanley Shanapinda, welcomed the urgency behind CRAN’s latest financial injection into rural connectivity as an intervention that goes far beyond infrastructure and into the heart of economic inclusion in Namibia.
“We are not just building towers. We are creating a digital lifeline for rural communities,” he said.
Under the USF’s Phase II, CRAN has allocated $1.8m (N$32.3 million) to Mobile Telecommunications Company Namibia and $540 000 (N$9.8 million) to Telecom Namibia to expand telecoms infrastructure across some of the country’s most underserved regions.
These include Karas, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, and Oshikoto—areas where connectivity gaps have long reinforced inequality.
At its core, the funding is an attempt to fix a structural problem that is keeping Namibia’s connectivity uneven. While urban centres like Windhoek enjoy relatively stable broadband access, rural penetration still lags significantly, contributing to a national internet usage rate of just over 50%.
Under the Sixth National Development Plan, the government aims to push this figure to 90% by 2030, a target that will be impossible without interventions like the USF.
CRAN CEO Emilia Nghikembua described the initiative as a direct response to market failure.
“This intervention is aligned with NDP6 priorities to accelerate universal access to quality and affordable communication services, particularly for rural communities,” she said.
The rollout will see nine new Radio Access Network tower sites deployed, alongside three additional sites by Telecom Namibia. Already, 39% of the project has been completed, with civil works expected to begin in earnest from next month.
But the real story lies in what connectivity unlocks in Namibia’s rural areas, where limited network access has meant more than just slow internet. Nghikembua lamented how poor network access has restricted access to basic services in underserved communities.
Clinics struggle with digital health systems, schools remain cut off from e-learning platforms and small businesses are excluded from digital markets. By extending connectivity to at least 15 public institutions, including schools and healthcare facilities, the USF project aims to change that dynamic.
The inclusion of seven years of free connectivity for schools and clinics is particularly significant.
It demonstrates a shift from infrastructure deployment to long-term social impact, ensuring that connectivity translates into tangible improvements in education outcomes, healthcare delivery and local enterprise development.
“Connectivity is not a privilege, but a key driver of inclusive development,” said Nghikembua.
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