Telecom Namibia has signed a strategic partnership with Demshi Investment Holdings that will allow the state-owned telecommunications operator to expand fibre broadband services without having to build all the underlying infrastructure itself.
The agreement, signed in Windhoek on Thursday, will see Telecom Namibia use Demshi’s open-access fibre network to provide high-speed internet services to homes and businesses across the country.
Under the arrangement, Demshi will finance, deploy, own and maintain the passive fibre infrastructure, while Telecom Namibia will focus on selling internet services and managing customer relationships on the network.
Telecom Namibia will pay Demshi monthly rental fees based on the number of customers connected to the network, as well as installation, interconnection and maintenance-related charges where applicable.
The partnership forms part of Telecom Namibia’s strategy to accelerate fibre rollout, improve broadband access and reduce reliance on ageing copper infrastructure that has become increasingly vulnerable to theft and vandalism.
Telecom Namibia Chief Executive Officer Dr Stanley Shanapinda said the agreement would enable the company to expand its fibre footprint more efficiently while addressing longstanding infrastructure challenges.
“This partnership represents a strong alignment of vision and strategy between Telecom Namibia and Demshi. As we fast-track our fibre rollout, we are actively addressing the challenges of copper theft by transitioning to fibre infrastructure, particularly in high-risk areas,” he said.
The move means Telecom Namibia can extend fibre services to more customers without carrying the full capital cost of network construction, while leveraging infrastructure already being deployed by Demshi.
Demshi, which is backed by the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF), operates an open-access model that allows multiple service providers to use the same fibre network, reducing duplication of infrastructure investment and lowering deployment costs.
Shanapinda said the partnership would also support the rollout of advanced digital services.
“This collaboration will enable us to deliver advanced solutions such as Cloud PABX for businesses and seamless, high-speed connectivity for residential customers. We thank Demshi for their foresight, commitment, and continued drive to innovate alongside us,” he said.
Demshi Investment Holdings Managing Director Werner Shilunga said the partnership would help improve broadband access while supporting efforts to bridge Namibia’s digital divide.
“Our infrastructure is designed to empower connectivity and help narrow Namibia’s digital divide. We are humbled by Telecom Namibia’s trust and confident that this partnership will bring meaningful improvements to customers, especially in addressing challenges such as copper theft,” he said.
The deal comes as telecommunications operators increasingly shift away from copper networks towards fibre infrastructure, which offers higher speeds, lower maintenance costs and greater resistance to theft and vandalism.
For Telecom Namibia, the agreement is expected to accelerate broadband expansion while supporting the company’s digital transformation objectives under its five-year strategic plan.
