By Lot Ndamanomhata
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (ICASA) decision to compel mobile network operators to roll over unused prepaid data, voice and SMS bundles is more than a regulatory adjustment.
It is a clear policy statement: access to digital communication is a social and economic necessity, not a disposable luxury.
As Namibia accelerates its digital transformation agenda, ICASA’s intervention offers an important moment for reflection. The question for Namibia is no longer whether such reforms are desirable, but whether the country can afford not to pursue them.
Why the ICASA Decision Matters for Namibia
Namibia shares many structural similarities with South Africa’s telecommunications market. Prepaid mobile services dominate usage, particularly among low-income households, rural communities, young people and informal sector workers.
Yet, like South Africa before ICASA’s intervention, Namibia continues to allow paid-for data and airtime to expire, effectively penalising those least able to absorb such losses.
In practice, data expiry functions as a silent wealth transfer from consumers to operators. It undermines affordability, entrenches the digital divide, and contradicts national development goals that depend on universal access to information, education, and digital services.
ICASA’s ruling reframes the issue correctly: data does not perish, and consumers should not lose value for services they have already paid for.
The Developmental Case for Reform in Namibia
Namibia’s Vision 2030, the Harambee Prosperity Plan, and national digital transformation strategies all emphasise inclusivity, access, and economic participation. Yet these ambitions cannot be realised if connectivity remains structurally extractive.
Expired data affects:
1.Learners accessing online educational content,
2. Job seekers applying for opportunities,
3. Entrepreneurs operating digitally,
4. Citizens engaging with e-government platforms.
In this sense, mobile data policy is no longer a narrow technical matter — it is a developmental issue.
What Namibia Can Learn from ICASA
South Africa’s experience offers four key lessons:
First, consumer protection must be proactive. ICASA did not wait for voluntary industry reform; it used regulatory authority decisively.
Second, affordability is multidimensional. Even where headline data prices fall, unfair usage rules can still impose disproportionate costs on the poor.
Third, regulatory independence matters. ICASA’s ability to act, despite resistance from parts of the industry, reinforces the importance of strong, well-capacitated regulators.
Fourth, parliamentary oversight and public pressure play a critical role in shaping outcomes without undermining regulatory independence.
Policy Recommendations for Namibia
1. Recommendations to CRAN (Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia)
CRAN should initiate a comprehensive review of End-User and Subscriber Regulations with the following reforms:
- Mandatory automatic rollover of unused prepaid data, voice and SMS bundles, at no additional cost.
- Prioritisation of older bundles before newer ones to prevent artificial forfeiture.
- Minimum rollover periods that reflect realistic consumer usage patterns.
- Mandatory usage notifications at 50%, 80% and 100% consumption thresholds.
- Prohibition of out-of-bundle charges unless users explicitly opt in.
CRAN should also conduct a public inquiry into the socio-economic impact of data expiry practices, with specific attention to rural and low-income users.
2. Recommendations to Parliament
Parliament, through its relevant portfolio committees, should:
- Exercise active oversight over mobile pricing, bundle expiry practices, and consumer protection enforcement.
- Require regular reporting from CRAN on affordability, access and market conduct.
- Consider whether access to digital communication should be explicitly recognised as a public interest obligation within existing legislation.
As seen in South Africa, sustained parliamentary engagement can accelerate reform while strengthening institutional accountability.
3. Recommendations to the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT)
The Ministry should provide clear policy direction by:
- Aligning communications regulation with national development and inclusion objectives, not only market efficiency.
- Issuing a policy directive on digital affordability, explicitly addressing prepaid data practices.
- Coordinating with CRAN, education authorities and other ministries to ensure connectivity supports national priorities such as education, employment and e-government.
MICT has a critical role in ensuring that Namibia’s digital transition does not replicate existing social inequalities in a new technological form.
Towards a Fair Digital Economy
ICASA’s ruling signals a shift towards a developmental approach to digital regulation — one that recognises that markets alone do not guarantee fairness or inclusion.
For Namibia, adopting similar reforms would not represent regulatory overreach. On the contrary, it would reflect a mature understanding that digital connectivity is foundational infrastructure, much like water, electricity and transport.
The choice is clear: either Namibia continues to allow silent extraction through data expiry, or it asserts a regulatory framework that protects consumers, promotes equity, and ensures that digital progress serves national development.
ICASA has shown what is possible. The responsibility now lies with Namibia’s regulators, policymakers and lawmakers to act with equal clarity and courage.
*Lot Ndamanomhata is from Ekoka. This article reflects his views and writes entirely in his personal capacity.
