Data services remained the main revenue driver in Namibia’s information and communications technology sector during the third quarter of 2025, according to the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN).
CRAN’s Quarterly Statistics Bulletin for July to September 2025 shows that total data revenue increased from N$876 million in the second quarter to N$928 million in the third quarter, reflecting growing consumer reliance on streaming, social media and cloud-based services.
Voice revenue declined slightly from N$702 million to N$695 million, while SMS revenue fell marginally from N$149 million to N$147 million during the same period.
Overall ICT revenue rose by 1 percent to N$1.6 billion, while operating expenses declined slightly to N$1.3 billion, improving the sector’s revenue-to-cost ratio, CRAN said.
Investment in telecommunications increased to N$455 million in the third quarter, signalling stabilisation after a previous decline. CRAN attributed the rise mainly to fibre deployments and software upgrades by operators including MTC, Telecom Namibia and Paratus.
CRAN executive for communications and consumer relations Mufaro Nesongano said the total number of active SIM cards increased by 3 percent, marking a shift from the stability recorded in the second quarter.
“This growth was largely driven by a 3 percent rise in prepaid subscriptions, while postpaid subscriptions grew by only 1 percent. Mobile broadband usage rose by 6 percent, and dongle and router-based broadband subscriptions increased by 30 percent, although from a relatively small base, indicating renewed interest in fixed mobile wireless alternatives,” Nesongano said.
CRAN reported that the proportion of SIM cards used for internet access increased from 61 percent to 63 percent, highlighting the continued shift towards data-driven communication.
Fixed-line subscriptions declined by 2 percent, affecting both business and residential users. Fixed broadband subscriptions increased by 2 percent, supported by a 12 percent rise in fibre-to-the-premises connections.
VoIP subscriptions grew by 8 percent, while satellite and VSAT subscriptions dropped by 39 percent following a previous surge. ADSL connections declined by 2 percent, CRAN said.
Mobile voice traffic increased by 8 percent overall, with MTC recording a 9 percent increase and TN Mobile 1 percent.
“SMS traffic increased marginally by 1 percent, showing early signs of stabilisation. Mobile data usage grew significantly, driven largely by increased consumption on the Paratus network following the launch of its LTE network and associated PAGE 6 packages in August 2025,” Nesongano said.
CRAN reported that cyber threat events declined by 53 percent during the quarter, although overall exposure and vulnerabilities remained largely unchanged. The regulator said the decline may reflect changes in monitoring and detection rather than a reduction in underlying risk.
Pay television subscriptions increased by 2 percent, with DStv subscriptions rising by 4 percent due to strong sports content, while GOtv subscriptions declined by 3 percent, likely reflecting competition from streaming platforms. Advertising revenue grew by 7 percent.
The postal sector remained stable, with postbox occupancy unchanged at 48 percent and private bag utilisation at 35 percent.
“The rural post office network also remained unchanged, with 83 percent of post offices located in rural areas, continuing to provide universal access to essential communication and parcel services in underserved communities,” Nesongano said.
