The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has summoned Telecom Namibia for an urgent briefing following recurring broadband network failures that have disrupted internet services across parts of the country.
The regulator said it is seriously concerned about the scale and frequency of the outages, warning that the disruptions are affecting consumers, businesses and institutions that rely on stable connectivity for daily operations and communication.
CRAN also raised concerns about Telecom Namibia’s ability to meet licence obligations and minimum quality-of-service standards amid the continuing network instability.
The authority said it has requested a comprehensive explanation from Telecom Namibia on the root causes of the disruptions, interventions currently underway and measures being implemented to prevent further incidents.
CRAN Chief Executive Officer Emilia Nghikembua said reliable telecommunications services remain critical to Namibia’s economy and digital transformation agenda.
“Reliable connectivity remains critical to Namibia’s socio-economic development and digital transformation agenda. CRAN expects all licensed operators to maintain service quality standards and to ensure that consumers are kept informed during service disruptions. We are engaging Telecom Namibia to better understand the cause of the current challenges and the measures being implemented to restore and stabilise services,” Nghikembua said.
She said CRAN would also assess whether Telecom Namibia remains capable of complying with broader licence conditions and customer service obligations.
“The Authority will also assess the overall viability of Telecom Namibia’s business case in light of the continued network instability and compliance with other licence conditions. This assessment will focus on whether Telecom Namibia is able to meet its licence obligations and uphold customer service and quality assurance standards,” Nghikembua said.
CRAN said it will continue monitoring the situation closely while restoration efforts continue.
In response, Telecom Namibia acknowledged the regulator’s concerns and confirmed that it is cooperating fully with CRAN.
The company said the disruptions were linked to a combination of network infrastructure challenges and system-related issues affecting both its fixed broadband and mobile network environment.
Telecom Namibia said technical teams remain deployed around the clock to restore services and improve network resilience.
The operator also admitted that service performance had not consistently met expected standards.
“Telecom Namibia further acknowledges that service performance has not consistently met expected standards. The organisation is committed to restoring service reliability and rebuilding customer confidence through measurable improvements and greater transparency,” the company said.
Telecom Namibia said it is accelerating a range of interventions, including network stabilisation and optimisation initiatives, infrastructure upgrades, improved monitoring systems and enhanced customer communication.
The company said it would continue engaging with CRAN, government and customers while providing updates on restoration progress and timelines.
Telecom Namibia added that it remains committed to meeting its licence obligations and delivering reliable telecommunications services nationwide.
