Telecom Namibia

Telecom Namibia Limited is Namibia's national telecommunications operator and a state-owned provider of fixed-line, mobile, broadband, internet, hosting, infrastructure, and maritime communications services. Established in August 1992, the company operates nationwide and remains wholly owned by the Government of Namibia. Its activities span consumer, small-business, corporate, carrier, public-sector, and specialist maritime markets. The company inherited and developed much of Namibia's fixed telecommunications infrastructure. It holds a monopoly over landline access, although fixed-line use has declined as mobile and wireless alternatives have expanded. Fixed services include traditional voice, fibre connections, DSL, ISDN, broadband, and related connectivity products. In cities and other served areas, Telecom Namibia has progressively shifted customers toward fibre and IP-based networks. Telecom Namibia also operates a mobile business through tn mobile. Its mobile history began with the SWITCH CDMA service, launched around the end of 2009 as Namibia's third cellular provider. The network was converted from CDMA to GSM in 2011. Telecom Namibia acquired the mobile operator Leo in 2012 and fully incorporated it in 2013, subsequently operating the business under the tn mobile name. The mobile division provides voice, data, broadband, prepaid services, 4G LTE connectivity, and fixed-mobile convergence offerings; it is not treated as a separate standalone enterprise from Telecom Namibia. Beyond access services, the company operates iWay, a web-services brand acquired in 2000. iWay provides domain registration, web hosting, email, website development, SMS platforms, and other value-added IT services to residential, SME, and corporate customers. Telecom Namibia also supplies colocation and infrastructure services to other communications providers, including tower and network-related capabilities associated with PowerCom, which it acquired in 2013. International connectivity is an important part of Telecom Namibia's strategic role. The company has invested in national fibre infrastructure and in subsea cable systems including SAT-3, SEACOM, WACS, and Google's Equiano cable. These connections support Namibia's access to international internet capacity and contribute to its role as a digital gateway for the Southern African Development Community region. The company's reported infrastructure includes an extensive fibre backbone, numerous IP/MPLS points of presence, international and domestic digital destinations, and hundreds of towers supporting mobile and fixed-wireless services. Telecom Namibia also provides maritime communications from Walvis Bay. These services include radio and NAVTEX broadcasts for ships along Namibia's coast, supported by remote broadcasting stations and a continuously operated control room. Emergency coordination is conducted locally with support from South African authorities where required. The operator's broader public-interest role includes extending broadband and mobile coverage to remote villages, schools, clinics, lodges, and government offices. Such deployments support e-learning, e-health, public administration, business activity, and wider digital inclusion. Its competitive environment includes MTC Namibia, Paratus Telecom, and MTN Namibia. In December 2024, Telecom Namibia was reportedly targeted by a ransomware attack attributed to Hunters International, with claims that sensitive customer and government-related information was exposed. The incident highlighted the cybersecurity risks associated with operating critical national communications infrastructure.

Telecom Namibia was established in August 1992 as Namibia's national telecommunications operator. Its development reflects the country's transition toward an independent national communications system and the later transformation of telecommunications from a predominantly fixed-line utility into a multi-service digital platform. The company remains wholly owned by the Government of Namibia and has retained a central role in connecting households, businesses, public institutions, and remote communities. Fixed-line services formed the traditional foundation of the business. Telecom Namibia has operated Namibia's landline access network and has historically been the country's monopoly fixed-line provider. As mobile services and wireless broadband expanded, fixed-line demand declined, but the company continued to modernize its access network through fibre deployment and other IP-based technologies. DSL and ISDN remained part of the historical service mix, while fibre became increasingly important in urban and higher-capacity locations. The company entered mobile communications through the SWITCH brand. The service used CDMA technology and was formally established around the end of 2009, making Telecom Namibia the country's third cellular provider at that time. By mid-2010, the service had attracted tens of thousands of customers. In August 2011, the CDMA network was converted to GSM, allowing the operator to align its mobile platform with the dominant international technology ecosystem and broaden device compatibility. Telecom Namibia acquired the mobile operator Leo in 2012 and completed its incorporation into the company in 2013. The business was subsequently rebranded as tn mobile. This transaction gave Telecom Namibia a more substantial mobile presence and enabled it to combine mobile voice and data with its fixed network. tn mobile later expanded into 4G LTE, mobile broadband, prepaid data devices, and fixed-mobile convergence products supported by an IMS core. Although the name continued to be used commercially, tn mobile operated as Telecom Namibia's mobile division rather than as an independent corporate operator. Telecom Namibia broadened its portfolio through digital services and infrastructure acquisitions. It acquired iWay in 2000, adding web hosting, domain registration, email, website development, SMS platforms, and related IT services. In 2013, it acquired PowerCom, a telecommunications tower and infrastructure business established in 2007. These assets strengthened the company's ability to provide network coverage, infrastructure support, and services to other operators and enterprise customers. International connectivity became another major strategic focus. Telecom Namibia invested in national fibre routes and participated in access to subsea systems such as SAT-3, SEACOM, WACS, and Google's Equiano cable. These investments increased international bandwidth and supported Namibia's role as a regional internet and digital-connectivity gateway for the Southern African Development Community. Its network has grown to include a nationwide fibre backbone, IP/MPLS points of presence, multiple digital destinations, and tower infrastructure for mobile and fixed-wireless services. The operator has also maintained specialized maritime communications capabilities from Walvis Bay. Radio and NAVTEX transmissions serve vessels along the Namibian coast, with remote broadcasting stations and a continuously staffed control room. These services complement Telecom Namibia's consumer and enterprise operations and reflect its responsibility for communications infrastructure of national and maritime importance. In the 2020s, Telecom Namibia continued to support broadband and mobile access in rural areas and at schools, clinics, lodges, and government facilities. These deployments have been associated with digital inclusion, e-learning, e-health, public administration, and economic development. The company faces competition from MTC Namibia, Paratus Telecom, and MTN Namibia while also dealing with the structural decline of traditional landlines and the need for continued investment in fibre, mobile coverage, and cybersecurity. In December 2024, it was reported that the company had been hit by a ransomware attack attributed to Hunters International, with claims involving the exposure of sensitive customer and government-related data.

• 2024

  Ransomware incident reported

  [1]Telecom Namibiaen.wikipedia.org

  Telecom Namibia was reported to have been targeted by Hunters International, which claimed to have obtained sensitive customer and government-related data.

• 2013

  Leo incorporated as tn mobile

  [1]Telecom Namibiaen.wikipedia.org

  The acquired mobile business was fully incorporated and operated under the tn mobile name.

• 2013

  PowerCom acquired

  [1]Telecom Namibiaen.wikipedia.org

  Telecom Namibia acquired PowerCom, strengthening its telecommunications tower and infrastructure capabilities.

• 2012

  Leo acquired

  [1]Telecom Namibiaen.wikipedia.org

  Telecom Namibia acquired the mobile operator Leo as part of its expansion in cellular communications.

• 2011

  Mobile network converted to GSM

  [1]Telecom Namibiaen.wikipedia.org

  The SWITCH CDMA network was converted to GSM, improving compatibility with widely used mobile devices and network standards.

• 2009

  SWITCH mobile service launched

  [1]Telecom Namibiaen.wikipedia.org

  Telecom Namibia established SWITCH as a CDMA-based cellular service, becoming Namibia's third cellular provider.

• 2000

  iWay acquired

  [1]Telecom Namibiaen.wikipedia.org

  Telecom Namibia acquired iWay, adding web hosting, domain, email, website development, and related digital services.

• 1992

  Telecom Namibia established

  [1]Telecom Namibiaen.wikipedia.org

  Telecom Namibia was established in August 1992 as Namibia's national telecommunications operator.

A government-owned national operator combining universal-service responsibilities, fixed and mobile connectivity, enterprise ICT capabilities, international bandwidth, and telecommunications infrastructure.

• Fixed-line and broadband

  Fixed telecommunications

  Telecom Namibia's fixed portfolio includes landline access, voice services, fibre connectivity, DSL, and ISDN. The company operates Namibia's fixed access network and has progressively modernized parts of it through fibre and IP technologies. Fixed services support residential customers, businesses, government offices, and other institutions, although traditional landline demand has declined as mobile and wireless services have become more prevalent.

• Mobile telecommunications · 2013

  tn mobile

  tn mobile is Telecom Namibia's mobile division, developed from the acquisition and incorporation of Leo. It provides mobile voice, messaging, data, prepaid services, broadband, and 4G LTE connectivity. The division also supports fixed-mobile convergence products and mobile broadband devices. Although tn mobile remains a recognizable commercial brand, it operates within Telecom Namibia rather than as a separate standalone company.

• Web and IT services · 2000

  iWay

  iWay is Telecom Namibia's digital-services brand, acquired in 2000. It serves residential, small-business, and corporate customers with web hosting, domain registration, email, website development, SMS platforms, and other value-added information-technology services. The brand extends Telecom Namibia beyond connectivity into online presence, communications tools, and managed digital services.

• Wholesale telecommunications

  Network infrastructure and colocation

  Telecom Namibia provides network infrastructure and colocation services to commercial communications providers and enterprise customers. Its capabilities include fibre backbone access, IP/MPLS connectivity, tower infrastructure, and space or facilities for other operators. These services also support the company’s role as a national and regional connectivity platform.

• Maritime telecommunications

  Maritime communications

  From Walvis Bay, Telecom Namibia provides maritime radio and NAVTEX broadcasts for vessels operating along Namibia's coastline. The service uses remote transmission stations and a continuously operated, redundant control room. Emergency coordination is conducted locally, with cooperation involving South African forces where necessary.

• 2024

  Hunters International ransomware attack

  Telecom Namibia was reported to have been targeted by the Hunters International ransomware group in December 2024. The group claimed that it had obtained and leaked sensitive customer information, including data connected with ministries and senior public officials. The incident raised concerns about the security of a state-owned operator responsible for critical national communications infrastructure.

  Source

Read more

• 2024

  Respond to a ransomware incidentStrategy

  Background

  Telecom Namibia was reported to have been targeted by the Hunters International ransomware group, with claims involving sensitive customer and government-related information.

  Action taken

  The publicly reported incident placed cybersecurity and protection of critical telecommunications data at the centre of operational scrutiny.

  Aftermath

  The attack highlighted the exposure of national operators to cyber extortion and data-leak risks. Detailed remediation actions and independently verified losses are not specified in the available reference material.

  Source

• 2013

  Acquire PowerComM&A

  Background

  Telecom Namibia needed additional infrastructure capabilities to extend coverage and support telecommunications operators.

  Action taken

  The company acquired PowerCom, a telecommunications tower and infrastructure business.

  Aftermath

  The transaction expanded Telecom Namibia's tower and network-infrastructure capabilities.

  Source

• 2012

  Acquire LeoM&A

  Background

  Telecom Namibia sought to strengthen its position in Namibia's mobile communications market.

  Action taken

  The company acquired the mobile operator Leo and completed its incorporation in 2013.

  Aftermath

  The acquired operation became tn mobile, Telecom Namibia's integrated mobile division.

  Source

• 2011

  Convert the SWITCH network from CDMA to GSMStrategy

  Background

  Telecom Namibia's initial cellular service used CDMA technology, while GSM had broader international adoption and device availability.

  Action taken

  The company converted its mobile network to GSM in August 2011.

  Aftermath

  The conversion provided a platform for broader handset compatibility and subsequent development of the company's mobile business.

  Source

1. 1Telecom Namibiaen.wikipedia.org