Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
April 2026
Informanté
Emilia Nghikembuaencouragedgirls to actively pursue careers in information and communication technology
Source
“CRAN Chief Executive Officer Emilia Nghikembua encouraged girls to actively pursue careers in information and communication technology, noting that diversity is essential for innovation and that inclusive participation helps ensure technology reflects the needs of society as a whole.”
Nghikembuastressedthe importance of responsible and ethical use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence
Source
“She further stressed the importance of responsible and ethical use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, as digital systems become increasingly integrated into everyday life.”
CRAN Chief Executive Officer Emilia NghikembuasaidAuthority signed subsidy agreement with MTC for RAN tower deployment in February 2026
Source
“CRAN Chief Executive Officer Emilia Nghikembua said the Authority had, in February 2026, signed a subsidy agreement with MTC for the deployment of Radio Access Network (RAN) towers at nine strategic locations across the //Karas, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, and Oshikoto regions.”
Emilia Nghikembua, CRAN's CEOsaidproject will extend connectivity to 15 public institutions including schools and clinics
Source
“She added that the project will extend connectivity to 15 public institutions, including schools and clinics, thereby supporting NDP6 objectives related to digital inclusion in education and healthcare, as well as enabling e-government services and socio-economic participation.”
Emilia Nghikembuastated thatincidents affecting CII can disrupt services and undermine public confidence
Source
“According to Emilia Nghikembua, Head of NAM-CSIRT, "incidents affecting CII have the potential to disrupt essential services, cause financial losses, undermine public confidence, and negatively impact economic activity."”
Cran chief executive Emilia Nghikembuasaid the move is part of a plan tomodernise Namibia's communications infrastructure
Source
“Speaking at the telecommunications stakeholder engagement this week, Cran chief executive Emilia Nghikembua said the move is part of a plan to modernise Namibia's communications infrastructure and prepare it for a rapidly evolving digital economy.”
Nghikembuasaid implementing PKI isfundamental to safeguarding online transactions
Source
“"Implementing PKI is fundamental to safeguarding online transactions and fostering confidence among consumers and businesses alike," said Nghikembua.”
CRAN Chief Executive Emilia Nghikembuasaidtower commissioning gives residents access to essential digital tools for livelihoods and learning
Source
“CRAN's chief executive office Emilia Nghikembua said, through the commissioning of this tower, residents of Ehomba and surrounding areas gain access to essential digital tools that support livelihoods, learning, entrepreneurship and safety.”
Emilia NghikembuaholdsMaster of Arts in Information and Communications Technology Policy from University of the Witwatersrand
Source
“She holds Baccalaureus Juris, Bachelor of Law and Master of Law (cum laude) degrees from the University of Namibia, complemented by a Master of Arts in Information and Communications Technology Policy and Regulation from the University of the Witwatersrand, as well as an Executive Master of Business Administration specialising in business and technology.”
Namibia recorded more than half a million cyber vulnerabilities between April and June, representing a 39.8% increase from the previous quarter, according to the Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team. The Communication Regulatory Authority chief executive urged organisations to tighten cybersecurity measures, implement national incident management guidelines, and report incidents early.
Namibia recorded more than half a million cyber vulnerabilities between April and June, representing a 39.8% increase from the previous quarter, according to the Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team. The Communication Regulatory Authority chief executive urged organisations to tighten cybersecurity measures, implement national incident management guidelines, and report incidents early.
Mobile Telecommunications Limited customers have filed complaints with the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) over alleged rapid data depletion and billing issues. Cran and MTC have agreed to conduct a joint technical testing and verification exercise involving affected consumers to examine their data depletion claims using technical information and charging records.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia has engaged Mobile Telecommunications Limited over consumer concerns about data disappearing faster than expected and billing transparency issues. CRAN and MTC have agreed to launch a technical testing and verification initiative involving affected consumers, with findings to guide interventions and possible relief.
Lawyer Richard Metcalfe says Starlink can challenge Cran's rejection of its licence application in the High Court through review proceedings and condonation, even though its reconsideration request was dismissed for being filed late. Cran dismissed the application after Starlink missed the 30-day deadline, having submitted it on 8 June, 55 days after the licence rejection on 23 March.
Namibia's communications regulator has closed its reconsideration process on Starlink's rejected licence application, directing aggrieved parties to pursue review at the High Court. Cran chief executive Emilia Nghikembua said the authority has exhausted all avenues available to it, noting that Starlink's own reconsideration request was submitted late and did not meet legal requirements.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has upheld its rejection of Starlink Internet Services Namibia's licence applications, emphasizing that the rule of law applies equally to all, including foreign investors. While acknowledging Starlink's potential to improve connectivity in remote areas, the editorial argues that adherence to national legislation must supersede admiration for technological innovation.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia has upheld its decision to reject Starlink Internet Services Namibia's licence applications after reviewing 624 requests for reconsideration, saying the reconsideration process did not provide new evidence or demonstrate any material error in the original decision. CRAN found the application did not meet requirements relating to ownership and control.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia dismissed 624 reconsideration requests following its March 2026 rejection of Starlink's licence applications, reaffirming that the company failed to comply with ownership and control requirements under the Communications Act.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia has dismissed all applications seeking reconsideration of its decision to reject Starlink Internet Services Namibia's licence applications, saying the company failed to comply with communications laws. Of 624 public requests for reconsideration, 622 were dismissed for failing procedural requirements, while the two that met the threshold presented no new evidence or material error.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Namibia's cybersecurity team detected 535,204 cyber vulnerabilities during October–December 2025, a 4.28% decrease from the previous quarter, though phishing scams and ransomware threats remain persistent concerns. The team has identified emerging ransomware groups and emphasises the need for continued vigilance in protecting critical infrastructure.
The Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team, housed under Cran, hosted a Domain Name System Resilience Training from 17 to 20 February 2026 in Windhoek to strengthen DNS security awareness and response capabilities across the region, addressing vulnerabilities that pose significant threats to internet integrity including botnets, denial-of-service attacks, and phishing.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia is planning to gradually shut down older 2G and 3G mobile networks over the next four years and replace them with 4G and 5G to align with global trends, provide faster internet speeds, and offer better security features. The authority is also implementing a public key infrastructure system to enhance digital security and protect online transactions.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia launched a telecommunications tower in Ehomba, Kunene region, under its Universal Service Fund initiative to expand digital access to rural and underserved communities. The launch follows an earlier USF tower deployment in Epinga, Ohangwena region in November 2025.
Namibia's communications regulator plans to introduce 5G services and low Earth orbit satellite internet while phasing out 2G and 3G networks in 2026, with operators required to deliver minimum download speeds of 25 Mbps by October. Competition will intensify as a third mobile operator enters the market and sector infrastructure modernizes to support industrial applications in mining, agriculture, health and education.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia has renewed the contract of CEO Emilia Nghikembua for a second term running from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030, citing her exemplary leadership and outstanding performance during her first term. The CRAN board credits her with spearheading transformative reforms in Namibia's telecommunications and broadcasting sectors.