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

Telecom Namibia

Also known as: Telecom Namibia Sports Club

State-owned telecommunications company expanding fibre and mobile infrastructure nationwide; CEO Dr Stanley Shanapinda departed July 2026 for regional regulatory role.

2022-09-042026-06-08
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What’s been said

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

  1. March 2026

  2. The Namibian

    Telecom Namibia suffered a massive data breach affecting approximately 600 000 citizens in 2024

    Source

    “In 2024, Telecom Namibia suffered a massive data breach affecting approximately 600 000 citizens.”

    Theofelus criticised after blaming pensioners for falling victim to online scams

  3. New Era

    Telecom Namibia Sports Club will host 2026 Southern African Telecommunications Games in Swakopmund from 3 to 6 April

    Source

    “Telecom Namibia Sports Club will host the 2026 Southern African Telecommunications Games (SATeG) in Swakopmund from 3 to 6 April.”

    Swakopmund to host SATeG games

  4. The Namibian

    Telecom Namibia has announced a N$2,3 billion upgrade plan

    Source

    “Telecom Namibia alone has announced a N$2,3 billion upgrade plan, and past experiences suggest this usually comes straight from the taxpayers' pockets, as the government has to provide bailouts.”

    Cover the Technology Basics First

  5. The Namibian

    Telecom Namibia operates tower infrastructure through separate subsidiary PowerCom

    Source

    “While MTC is not pursuing the model, Telecom Namibia already operates its tower infrastructure through a separate subsidiary, PowerCom.”

    MTC rules out immediate telecom tower spin-off
  6. January 2026

  7. New Era

    Telecom Namibia has embarked on one of the most ambitious network modernisation drives in its history

    Source

    “Telecom Namibia has embarked on one of the most ambitious network modernisation drives in its history, committing hundreds of millions of Namibian dollars to overhaul ageing infrastructure, expand fibre and mobile coverage, and position the country for a more competitive digital future.”

    Telecom avails millions for network overhaul …positioning Namibia for a more competitive digital future

  8. New Era

    Telecom Namibia has earmarked approximately N$300 million in additional capital expenditure for priority network upgrades

    Source

    “For the current financial year, Telecom Namibia has earmarked approximately N$300 million in additional capital expenditure for priority network upgrades.”

    Telecom avails millions for network overhaul …positioning Namibia for a more competitive digital future
  9. May 2024

  10. The Namibian

    Telecom perennially relies on government for bailouts

    Source

    “Companies like Namibia Wildlife Resorts, Meatco or Telecom, which operate in otherwise traditionally profitable sectors, perennially rely on the government for bailouts.”

    Demand for Shares is Misguided
  11. June 2023

  12. The Namibian

    Telecom Namibia employs Joseph 'Blaz' Kashamako as wireless access engineer

    Source

    “Former national hockey team captain Joseph 'Blaz' Kashamako is employed in the engineering department of Telecom Namibia.”

    Former hockey star now ensures internet access
  13. September 2022

  14. The Namibian

    Telecom Namibia is run by the educated elite

    Source

    “All of these are run by the educated elite.”

    Time For The Uneducated to Lead SOEs
Business

Telecom Namibia CEO Shanapinda takes CRASA Executive Secretary role

The News

Dr Stanley Shanapinda, outgoing CEO of Telecom Namibia since 2021, has been appointed Executive Secretary of the Communications Regulators' Association of Southern Africa (CRASA), a SADC-based organisation mandated to promote regulatory harmonisation among regional communications regulators. During his tenure at Telecom Namibia, he led transformation initiatives including network modernisation, digital infrastructure investment, and implementation of the 2023–2027 Strategic Business Plan.

4 June 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 4 June

  1. Telecom Namibia CEO Shanapinda takes CRASA Executive Secretary role

    Dr Stanley Shanapinda, outgoing CEO of Telecom Namibia since 2021, has been appointed Executive Secretary of the Communications Regulators' Association of Southern Africa (CRASA), a SADC-based organisation mandated to promote regulatory harmonisation among regional communications regulators. During his tenure at Telecom Namibia, he led transformation initiatives including network modernisation, digital infrastructure investment, and implementation of the 2023–2027 Strategic Business Plan.

    4 June 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 3 June

  1. Telecom Namibia CEO takes SADC regulatory harmonisation role

    Shanapinda, who led Telecom Namibia for six years, has been appointed to lead an organisation responsible for promoting regulatory harmonisation and cooperation among communication regulators in the Southern African Development Community. A new chief executive will be recruited once Telecom Namibia's new board starts on 3 June.

    3 June 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Telecom Namibia CEO Shanapinda departs for CRASA role

    Telecom Namibia CEO Dr Stanley Shanapinda will step down from the state-owned telecommunications company on 1 July after accepting a senior regional appointment with CRASA (the Communications Regulators Association of Southern Africa).

    3 June 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Tuesday 26 May

  1. Telecom Namibia expands fibre and mobile infrastructure nationwide

    Telecom Namibia is executing a nationwide network modernisation programme under its 2027 Integrated Strategic Business Plan, upgrading core infrastructure, backup power systems, and mobile and fixed broadband services to improve reliability and speed, despite acknowledged recent disruptions.

    26 May 2026 · Informanté →

  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 →

Tuesday 12 May

  1. Truck drivers criticise border post delays and system inefficiencies

    The chief of the Namibian Revolutionary Transport Union has criticised long delays at border posts, blaming slow processes within the Namibia Revenue Agency and calling for contingency plans. A truck driver cited extended waits during verification and inspection at Oshikango Border Post.

    12 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 11 May

  1. Lawmakers warn of safety risk from mobile network gap on Rosh Pinah road

    National Council member Nestor Sheimi raised concerns that the lack of mobile network coverage along the road between Rosh Pinah and Oranjemund leaves motorists vulnerable, warning that lives could be lost if accidents occur. He called on the ministry and MTC to urgently install network towers capable of covering long distances and provide 5G services in the area.

    11 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 27 April

  1. Namibia, Angola sign telecom cooperation agreement

    Telecom Namibia and Angola Telecom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Commercial Terms Agreement to strengthen regional digital connectivity, enabling Angola Telecom to access international bandwidth via Namibia's Equiano Subsea Cable landing station in Swakopmund. The agreement aims to enhance cross-border connectivity, improve network resilience, and support development of a more integrated digital economy along Southern Africa's west coast.

    27 April 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 25 April

  1. Big Ben concert at Zoo Park draws emotional crowd

    An opinion piece reflects on a Big Ben concert at Zoo Park, describing a chaotic but emotionally connected crowd that sang along enthusiastically, with moments including a live proposal, though the artist struggled with lyrics and the performance was imperfect overall.

    25 April 2026 · The Namibian →

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 →

Tuesday 21 April

  1. Telecom Namibia CEO apologizes for April network outages

    Telecom Namibia CEO Stanley Shanapinda apologized for network disruptions that occurred between 15 and 16 April, attributed to international connectivity failures, copper theft, and vandalism. The company is implementing infrastructure upgrades, enhanced security, and collaboration with law enforcement to prevent future outages.

    21 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 20 April

  1. Telecom Namibia CEO apologizes for April network outages

    Telecom Namibia CEO Dr Stanley Shanapinda apologized for extended fixed and mobile internet service outages on 15–16 April 2026, caused by failure of two high-capacity international links to South Africa. He attributed the extended recovery time to structural vulnerabilities where legacy and modern network systems intersect, and announced plans to accelerate modernization programmes and upgrade border routing infrastructure.

    20 April 2026 · Informanté →

  2. Telecom Namibia begins phased network upgrades through 2027

    Telecom Namibia is rolling out infrastructure upgrades to strengthen network resilience and modernize systems, including core routing improvements, fixed-mobile convergence, and billing platform modernisation, with projects continuing through early 2027. The company plans to invest more than N$2.3 billion over coming years for fibre-to-the-home expansion, mobile network upgrades to 4.5G and 5G preparation, and improved international connectivity, supported by a N$405 million social loan from RMB Namibia.

    20 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 18 April

  1. Telecom Namibia restores service after international route failure

    Telecom Namibia confirmed that recent network disruptions were caused by a technical fault on external international connectivity routes, leading to slower speeds and intermittent access. The company's teams responded immediately and implemented corrective measures including traffic redirection and equipment upgrades to restore and stabilize services.

    18 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 →

Wednesday 1 April

  1. Telecom Namibia rewards Brave Gladiators with 30 smartphones

    Telecom Namibia has given the Brave Gladiators women's football team 30 smartphones worth approximately N$100,000 following their COSAFA Women's Championship victory, with the CEO citing the team's historic achievement and commitment to supporting women's sport in Namibia.

    1 April 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 →

Friday 27 March

  1. RMB grants Telecom Namibia N$405m for digital infrastructure upgrade

    Rand Merchant Bank Namibia has extended a N$405 million seven-year loan to Telecom Namibia to fund its five-year transformation strategy, aimed at improving broadband access and mobile network capacity nationwide to ensure citizens have access to reliable and affordable digital services.

    27 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 26 March

  1. RMB Namibia funds Telecom's N$405m infrastructure upgrade plan

    RMB Namibia has provided Telecom Namibia with a N$405 million seven-year social loan to upgrade infrastructure and expand connectivity, particularly to underserved areas, through fibre-to-the-home rollout and mobile network upgrades. The investment aims to improve digital access across the country and reduce the connectivity gap between urban and rural areas.

    26 March 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 25 March

  1. 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 →

Monday 16 March

  1. Minister criticized for blaming pensioners targeted by online scams

    Minister Emma Theofelus drew criticism from consumer activists after stating that pensioners falling victim to online scams bear responsibility for protecting themselves, while activists argue the government should run awareness campaigns and opponents point to legislative gaps in data protection and cybercrime laws.

    16 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Swakopmund hosts regional telecom games in April 2026

    Telecom Namibia Sports Club will host the 2026 Southern African Telecommunications Games (SATeG) in Swakopmund from 3–6 April, bringing together telecommunications operators from six Southern African countries to promote sportsmanship, collaboration and industry unity through sporting competitions, cultural activities and networking.

    16 March 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 8 March

  1. Namibia should prioritise 4G coverage before pursuing 5G rollout

    An opinion piece argues that Namibia should focus on achieving universal 2G and 4G coverage before pursuing 5G technology, as large areas of the country lack basic connectivity and the financial burden of 5G rollout could worsen the national debt crisis.

    8 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 6 March

  1. MTC rules out immediate telecom tower infrastructure spin-off

    MTC says it has no immediate plans to separate its tower and passive infrastructure assets into a standalone company, despite the model gaining traction globally and being used to unlock capital and improve efficiency. The company does not rule out the possibility in future, while Telecom Namibia already operates towers through its subsidiary PowerCom.

    6 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 26 February

  1. Kavango West leaders frustrated by Nored power outages

    Kavango West leaders have accused the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) of failing to provide reliable electricity to the region, citing constant power cuts and slow restoration times. The criticism came during a stakeholder engagement hosted by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, where local officials and businesses, including telecommunications operators and a tourism lodge, expressed concern about the outages and their economic impact.

    26 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 7 February

  1. MP questions MTC and Telecom over data expiration policies

    PDM parliamentarian Winnie Moongo has raised concerns with the ICT minister about prepaid data expiration policies imposed by MTC and Telecom Namibia, arguing that consumers lose paid-for data due to restrictive usage timelines and that this disproportionately affects low-income and rural Namibians. She called on the Communications Regulatory Authority to ensure these practices align with consumer protection principles and public interest.

    7 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 16 January

  1. Telecom Namibia invests N$300m to modernize network infrastructure

    Telecom Namibia is committing hundreds of millions of Namibian dollars to overhaul ageing infrastructure, expand fibre and mobile coverage, and modernize its telecommunications backbone through projects focused on 4G/4.5G rollout, fibre-to-the-x expansion, and cybersecurity improvements. The upgrades aim to improve customer experience, strengthen network resilience, and position the country for a more competitive digital future.

    16 January 2026 · New Era →

Telecom Namibia — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute