Namibia Minute.
Monday, 8 June 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 8 June 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia

Also known as: Cran · Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia

Namibia's telecommunications and broadcasting regulator, managing licensing, infrastructure funds, cybersecurity frameworks, and service standards across the sector.

2022-03-112026-06-08
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What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. April 2026

  2. New Era

    Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) signed an addendum to their Memorandum of Understanding with Namibian Competition Commission on Tuesday

    Source

    “The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) and the Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) inked a new agreement to improve their collaboration in the country's fast-growing information and communication technology (ICT) sector.”

    CRAN, NaCC reinforce cooperation in ICT sector
  3. March 2026

  4. The Namibian

    Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) called for responsible handling of NAC data leakage information

    Source

    “The Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) has called for information related to the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) data leak incident to be handled responsibly.”

    Cran calls for responsible handling of NAC data leakage

  5. The Namibian

    Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia turned down Musk's application to set up shop in Namibia

    Source

    “This week, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia turned down Musk's application to set up shop in Namibia.”

    Editorial: Local Tech Companies Won. Now They Need to Deliver

  6. The Namibian

    Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia announced it had declined Starlink's application for a class comprehensive telecommunications service licence and spectrum licence

    Source

    “Cran this week announced it had declined Starlink's application for a class comprehensive telecommunications service licence, as well as its spectrum licence for satellite internet services.”

    Starlink to appeal Namibia’s licence rejection

  7. The Namibian

    The regulator says the rejection follows Starlink's failure to meet local ownership, regulatory compliance, and legal requirements

    Source

    “The regulator says the rejection follows Starlink's failure to meet local ownership, regulatory compliance, and legal requirements.”

    Starlink to appeal Namibia’s licence rejection

  8. The Namibian

    Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) announced its decision to reject Starlink's licence application

    Source

    “The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) announced its decision on Monday.”

    Namibia stands firm on Starlink rejection

  9. New Era

    CRAN issued an order against Starlink, accusing it of operating without a licence

    Source

    “In 2024, CRAN issued an order against Starlink, accusing it of operating without a licence and instructing it to immediately cease all operations in Namibia.”

    Starlink rejection: Legal, national security grounds  …no special treatment, says minister

  10. The Namibian

    Cran said Starlink was operating illegally without the required telecommunication licence

    Source

    “In November 2024, Cran said Starlink was operating illegally in Namibia without the required telecommunication licence.”

    Local internet providers unreliable – lawyer Amoomo after Starlink rejection

  11. Informanté

    The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) declined Starlink's application to operate in Namibia

    Source

    “THE Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has declined an application by Starlink to operate in Namibia, citing non-compliance with key legal and regulatory requirements, including ownership rules, national security considerations, and prior breaches of the law.”

    Starlink bid to operate in Namibia declined

  12. The Namibian

    Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) has officially declined Starlink's application to operate in Namibia, rejecting both class comprehensive telecommunications service licence and Spectrum licence

    Source

    “The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) has officially declined the application by Starlink to operate in Namibia, rejecting both its class comprehensive telecommunications service licence (ECS and ECNS) and its Spectrum licence for satellite internet services.”

    Cran rejects Starlink licence
Business

Cran defends fixed regulatory fee rates for broadcasters

The News

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia says its proposed regulatory levy increases consider challenges faced by broadcasters. The new system replaces progressive rates with fixed rates: telecommunications companies at 2.25% of annual revenue and broadcasters at 1.2%, designed to ensure fairness across licensees within each sector.

Why it matters

Cran's regulatory fee restructuring affects broadcasters and telecommunications companies' operational costs and sector sustainability.

28 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 28 May

  1. Cran defends fixed regulatory fee rates for broadcasters

    The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia says its proposed regulatory levy increases consider challenges faced by broadcasters. The new system replaces progressive rates with fixed rates: telecommunications companies at 2.25% of annual revenue and broadcasters at 1.2%, designed to ensure fairness across licensees within each sector.

    28 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 26 May

  1. Cran proposes fixed levy that would hurt small radio stations

    The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia has proposed switching from a progressive fee structure to a fixed 1.2% levy on broadcaster revenue, a change that would dramatically increase costs for small radio stations already struggling with the shift to digital platforms.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Telecom Namibia summoned over nationwide broadband outages

    Telecom Namibia has been summoned by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia following repeated nationwide broadband disruptions affecting businesses, institutions and households. The company attributed the outages to infrastructure-related problems and system faults, and said it will provide a full briefing on technical causes and measures to restore stability.

    26 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 22 May

  1. Legal practitioner Wilhelem Wilhelem appointed CRAN legal advisor

    Namibian legal practitioner and public sector professional Wilhelem Wilhelem has been appointed as a legal advisor at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN).

    22 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Friday 15 May

  1. Cran appoints Johanna Ileka as ICT systems specialist

    The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia has appointed Johanna Ileka as ICT systems specialist to strengthen the organisation's IT infrastructure. Her responsibilities include administration and maintenance of Cran's ICT environment, cloud platforms, virtualisation, data centre operations, identity and access management, and coordination of backup and disaster recovery systems.

    15 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Sunday 3 May

  1. Namibia launches 2026 Cybersecurity Incident Management Guidelines

    The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology has officially launched the National Cybersecurity Incident Management Guidelines 2026, a framework designed to strengthen Namibia's cyber resilience and safeguard critical digital infrastructure. The guidelines were developed by the Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team under the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia and launched in Ondangwa, bringing together government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders.

    3 May 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 25 April

  1. CRAN promotes girls' participation in tech, AI careers

    The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia marked International Girls in ICT Day 2026 on 23 April at A. Shipena Secondary School in Windhoek, calling for greater female participation in technology and digital fields. CRAN CEO Emilia Nghikembua encouraged young women to pursue careers as developers, data scientists, and cybersecurity experts, while the authority donated N$53,000 to the school's ICT laboratory.

    25 April 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 23 April

  1. CRAN allocates N$42.1 million for rural mobile network expansion

    The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia has allocated N$42.1 million under Phase 2 of the Universal Service Fund to MTC and Telecom Namibia to expand mobile and internet infrastructure into rural and underserved regions, including nine strategic RAN tower locations across five regions and connectivity to 15 public institutions. The project, 39% complete as of March 2026, supports Namibia's national development target of increasing internet penetration from 53% to 90% by 2030.

    23 April 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 17 April

  1. CRAN awards N$32m to MTC for rural connectivity expansion

    The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia has awarded Mobile Telecommunications Limited N$32.3 million through the Universal Service Fund Phase 2 project to deploy radio access network towers across five regions, extending connectivity to 15 public institutions including schools and clinics. The initiative supports the Sixth National Development Plan's digital inclusion priorities, with Phase 3 preparations underway for approximately N$65 million to benefit close to 16 communities.

    17 April 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 16 April

  1. Digital literacy key to Namibia's economic participation

    Digital literacy—the ability to effectively use digital devices and online platforms—is increasingly recognised in Namibia as essential for economic participation and social development. As connectivity expands and more citizens gain access to digital tools, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and young Namibians are using social media, mobile banking, and digital platforms to improve livelihoods, though responsible use and cybersecurity awareness remain critical.

    16 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 2 April

  1. CRAN and NaCC strengthen ICT sector cooperation agreement

    The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia and the Namibian Competition Commission signed an addendum to their Memorandum of Understanding to improve collaboration on fair competition and consumer protection in the ICT sector. The agreement establishes clearer procedures for handling complaints, joint investigations, information sharing, and coordinated decision-making between the two regulators.

    2 April 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 31 March

  1. Ransomware group leaks NAC stolen data on dark web

    Data breached in a cyberattack on Namibia Airports Company has been released on the dark web by the INC Ransomware Group, including airport permits, parking databases, engineering files, and financial records. Authorities are investigating whether sensitive or personally identifiable information is among the leaked files and urge organisations to strengthen cybersecurity measures.

    31 March 2026 · New Era →

Monday 30 March

  1. Namibia Cyber Team Confirms NAC Data Breach Publication Online

    NAM-CSIRT has confirmed that data stolen in a cyberattack on Namibia Airports Company has been published online, with preliminary assessments indicating the leaked data may include airport permit records, parking management information, engineering documentation, financial records, and internal reports. The attack, detected on 6 March 2026, involved approximately 500GB of data and is linked to the INC Ransomware Group, marking the second known attack by this group in Namibia.

    30 March 2026 · Informanté →

  2. Cran urges responsible handling of NAC data breach

    The Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) has called for responsible handling of information related to the Namibia Airports Company data leak, warning that circulation of unverified data may place individuals and organisations at further risk. The NAC was attacked by the Inc Ransomware Group on 19 March; leaked data includes financial records, internal reports, and engineering documents, though NAC says operations remain unaffected.

    30 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 28 March

  1. Local telecom firms must improve service after Starlink rejection

    The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia rejected Starlink's application citing ownership, security, and sovereignty concerns. The editorial argues that local telecommunications companies must now deliver better connectivity and affordability, noting that Namibia ranks 143rd globally in internet speed and only 15% of households have fixed internet access.

    28 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 27 March

  1. Starlink to appeal Namibia's telecommunications licence rejection

    Starlink says it will appeal the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia's rejection of its application to operate in the country, citing the authority's decision as "disappointing". The regulator declined the application because Starlink failed to meet local ownership requirements, which mandate that telecommunications providers be at least 51% locally owned, along with other regulatory and legal compliance issues.

    27 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 26 March

  1. Cran rejects Starlink licence application citing ownership and compliance failures

    The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia rejected Starlink's application for an operating licence after the company failed three of six required criteria, including local ownership requirements (51% local stake), regulatory compliance, and legal standards. Cran found that Starlink is entirely foreign-owned, had previously operated without a valid licence, and ignored compliance concerns raised by the authority.

    26 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Namibia maintains Starlink rejection over local ownership rules

    Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare defended Namibia's rejection of Starlink's licence application, saying the country will not waive its 51% local ownership requirement for any investor. Opposition leader McHenry Venaani criticised the decision as irrational, arguing Starlink could have improved internet connectivity for rural schools.

    26 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 25 March

  1. Starlink rejected over ownership rules, national security concerns

    Namibia's Information and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus said the rejection of Starlink's application to provide satellite internet services was lawful and based on regulatory requirements, including the mandatory 51% local ownership rule and national security concerns. The minister noted that Starlink's proposed 100% foreign ownership model raised material regulatory considerations regarding jurisdiction and government oversight, and that the company had also operated unlawfully without a licence.

    25 March 2026 · New Era →

  2. Lawyer criticizes local providers after Starlink rejected

    Lawyer Kadhila Amoomo has criticized local internet service providers as "unreliable monopolies" following the government's rejection this week of Starlink's application to operate in Namibia, citing the company's failure to meet legal and regulatory requirements. Amoomo argued that Namibians are "stuck" with expensive and unreliable services from Telecom and MTC, while the regulatory authority Cran has warned the public against purchasing or subscribing to Starlink services as they are illegal under Namibian law.

    25 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. CRAN rejects Starlink bid to operate in Namibia

    The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia has declined Starlink's application for telecommunications and spectrum licences, citing non-compliance with ownership rules (requiring 51% Namibian ownership), national security concerns, and prior breaches of the Communications Act. CRAN said Starlink met only three of six required criteria, and the company may request reconsideration within 30 days.

    25 March 2026 · Informanté →

  4. Cran declines Starlink licence application in Namibia

    The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) has rejected Starlink's applications for both a class comprehensive telecommunications service licence and a Spectrum licence for satellite internet services. The decision was published in the Government Gazette, with the authority citing that Starlink has 0% Namibian citizen ownership, and aggrieved parties may petition for reconsideration within 90 days.

    25 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  5. Namibia rejects Starlink licence bid citing ownership and security rules

    The government rejected Starlink's application to operate in Namibia, with the Communications Regulatory Authority noting the company failed to meet the 51% local ownership requirement and raised concerns over national security and data sovereignty. Though acknowledging Starlink's potential to improve connectivity in remote areas, authorities said compliance with Namibian law remains non-negotiable.

    25 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 23 March

  1. Ransomware attack exposes Namibia Airports Company to data theft threat

    The Namibia Airports Company suffered a ransomware attack by the INC Ransomware Group, with hackers claiming to have stolen 500 gigabytes of sensitive data including financial records, HR files, and customer information. The attackers have threatened to release the data after a countdown timer expires unless demands are met, making NAC the second confirmed Namibian victim of the group after an Otjiwarongo Municipality breach in 2025.

    23 March 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 22 March

  1. Namibia Airports Company suffers 500GB data breach by INC Ransomware

    The Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team confirmed that hackers linked to the INC Ransomware Group unauthorisedly accessed Namibia Airports Company's network and stole approximately 500GB of data, including financial records, HR data, and customer information. The group uses "double-extortion" tactics involving data theft and system encryption, and has threatened to release the stolen data after a countdown period.

    22 March 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 20 March

  1. Namibia's mobile users grow 9% as prepaid dominates

    According to CRAN's latest quarterly statistics, Namibian mobile phone users increased from 2.563 million to 2.788 million year-on-year, with prepaid subscriptions driving the growth by 5%. Mobile broadband use continues to rise, particularly via phones and fixed wireless connections, with 62% of SIM cards now used for internet access.

    20 March 2026 · New Era →

  2. CRAN expands mandate to cybersecurity and digital transformation

    The Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia has broadened its role beyond telecommunications regulation to include cybersecurity, hosting Namibia's Cyber Incident Response Team and driving the country's digital innovation agenda. CEO Emilia Nghikembua highlighted that outdated 2009 legislation hampers progress and outlined new strategic initiatives including regulatory sandboxes for technology testing and public key infrastructure deployment.

    20 March 2026 · New Era →

  3. Cran confirms INC Ransom group behind NAC cyberattack

    The Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia has confirmed that the INC Ransom cybercriminal group was responsible for last week's attack on Namibia Airports Company, claiming to have exfiltrated approximately 500GB of data including financial records, HR information, and customer details. This is the second Namibian entity targeted by the group after an attack on Otjiwarongo municipality last year.

    20 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 18 March

  1. Namibia Airports Company suffers cyber breach, networks restored

    The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) disclosed a cybersecurity breach detected on 6 March involving unauthorised network access, though airport services have been restored and there is no confirmed data theft. The incident prompted the Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team to issue a public advisory and call on all organisations to strengthen cyber resilience through enhanced security measures.

    18 March 2026 · New Era →

  2. Active SIM cards grow 4% in final quarter 2025

    Namibia's active SIM card subscriptions rose to 2.788 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 from 2.674 million in Q3, driven largely by a 5% increase in prepaid services, according to communications regulator Cran. Mobile broadband subscriptions grew 4%, while fixed-line subscriptions continued to decline.

    18 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute