MTC will discontinue its free stand-alone SMS rewards from 10 September 2026, marking the end of a service that has been a feature of mobile communications in Namibia for more than two decades.
The mobile operator said customers will no longer receive complimentary SMS allocations automatically loaded when recharging airtime, as it shifts its focus towards data-driven communication services and bundled offerings.
The move reflects changing consumer behaviour, with messaging increasingly taking place on internet-based platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage and email rather than through traditional text messaging.
MTC Chief Marketing, Communications and Sustainability Officer, Tim Ekandjo, said the decision forms part of the company’s efforts to improve network efficiency and align its products with evolving customer needs.
“Our customers’ communication needs are evolving rapidly. As part of our commitment to delivering improved services and innovative products, we are realigning our offerings to focus more on affordable data solutions,” he said.
According to Ekandjo, the widespread adoption of Over-The-Top (OTT) communication platforms has significantly reduced the relevance of conventional SMS services.
“The overwhelming popularity of internet-based messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram and iMessage provides consumers with free, media-rich and globally accessible communication options through standard data or Wi-Fi connections,” he said.
The free SMS incentive was introduced in the early 2000s and automatically rewarded prepaid customers with complimentary text messages whenever they recharged airtime. At the time, SMS was one of the most widely used forms of mobile communication, allowing users to send short text messages at a fraction of the cost of voice calls.
However, the rise of smartphones, mobile internet and messaging applications has steadily reduced SMS usage globally, with consumers increasingly favouring platforms that allow users to send text, voice notes, images, videos and documents through a single application.
MTC stressed that the change does not mean SMS services are being discontinued altogether.
Customers subscribed to Aweh bundles and the T49 prepaid package will continue to receive SMS allocations as part of their existing bundles. Postpaid customers will also retain access to SMS services through monthly free unit allocations and Boost Bundles.
As a result, customers who already use bundled packages are expected to experience little or no impact from the change.
MTC said standard SMS functionality will remain available across its network in line with existing tariff plans, while customers seeking SMS, voice and data services can continue subscribing to bundled packages.
The company described the move as part of a broader transition away from a standalone service feature that has been overtaken by newer digital communication technologies.
What the change means in practice is that customers who previously relied on the complimentary SMS reward received after recharging airtime will no longer receive those free messages from September. Instead, access to SMS services will increasingly be tied to bundled products that combine voice, data and messaging benefits.
“We remain committed to providing our customers with cost-effective and high-quality communication services that meet their modern lifestyles,” Ekandjo said.
