Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has called on Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) to uphold data sovereignty and ensure inclusive access to digital services as the company marked its 30th anniversary in Windhoek on Monday.
Speaking at the celebration, Ngurare underscored the need for the telecommunications giant to extend its network coverage—currently reaching 98% of the population—to full national access.
“We must deliberately have sovereignty on data. We must invariably be able to ensure that our national interest and security is protected and not compromised. Furthermore, we must be inclusive in making sure that every Namibian has equal access to quality connectivity, regardless of their geographical location,” the Prime Minister said.
MTC, Namibia’s leading telecommunications provider, commemorated three decades of service by reaffirming its commitment to national development and sustainable socio-economic investment.
MTC Managing Director Licky Erastus said the company remains dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Namibians.
“Yes, we have achieved significant social and economic progress in the past three decades, but the reality demands that we do more. It demands that we do not stop but rather re-invent and innovate to transform lives,” he said.
Erastus highlighted MTC’s long-standing support for key sectors including arts and culture, sport, education, health, poverty alleviation, and entrepreneurship, stating that while much progress has been made, continued investment is necessary.
“Our assurance is that MTC will continue to put the communities and all Namibians first in every investment decision we make because we believe in long-term sustainability and the well-being of our country and the environment,” he added.
As the company looks to the future, Erastus stressed the importance of education in shaping a responsible and innovative generation.
“As we journey towards the next 30 years in MTC’s history and that of our country, we must prioritise education so that we prepare a generation of innovators, a generation of servant leaders, a generation that will not tolerate corruption and a generation that will always look after the interest of all Namibians equally,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude to MTC’s customers, stakeholders, and the government for their enduring support over the years.
“Today, we celebrate the loyalty of our customers who stood beside us in good and bad times. We celebrate the Namibian government, which took a bold decision to start its own mobile telecommunications company. We celebrate all our ambassadors, former, current and future, who wake up every morning to serve all our customers with dedication and commitment,” Erastus said.
Over the past 30 years, MTC has marked several milestones, including the launch of 3G services in 2006, becoming the second operator in Africa to introduce 4G in 2012, and piloting 4.5G in 2016. In 2017, it launched the N$1 billion 081Every1 campaign to bridge the digital divide.
The company expanded into cloud and fibre enterprise services in 2018, introduced the Spectra product line in 2019, and in 2021, became the first state-owned enterprise to list on the Namibian Stock Exchange.
In 2023, MTC became the first company in Namibia to be certified in six ISO standards, and the first in Africa to implement the 2022 version of ISO 27001. This year, it launched the country’s first 5G mobile network trial in collaboration with Huawei and, through its subsidiary WGA (trading as MTC Maris), introduced mobile financial services after obtaining an e-money issuer licence.
“As we reflect on our journey, we celebrate not only our accomplishments but also the values that have guided us: innovation, integrity, and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Erastus.
“These principles have been the cornerstone of our growth and will continue to drive us forward as we embrace new challenges and opportunities.”
