Telecom Namibia is set to launch its commercial 5G deployment in 2026, following its peer MTC’s first 5G testing in partnership with Huawei. Dr. Stanley Shanapinda, CEO of Telecom Namibia, shared this update during a session organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology on the Implementation of Telecom Namibia’s Mobile and Data Turnaround Strategy in Windhoek.
Shanapinda addressed concerns about the telco’s testing timeline in comparison to MTC. Additionally, he stated that Telecom Namibia’s plan to deploy 500 base stations across the country is on track, with at least 77 of them expected to be operational by the end of the year.
Acknowledging the impact of its current 376 base stations on network coverage and service quality, Shanapinda emphasized the need for expansion to better serve customers nationwide.
Furthermore, Telecom Namibia aims to negotiate competitive pricing with primary equipment suppliers such as Huawei and ZTE for the rollout.
The company also plans to connect over 100,000 households in Namibia that currently lack access to fibre, recognizing the necessity for widespread connectivity in the digital economy era.