The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) released the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Development Index (DI) in July 2025. The index measures the level of Universal and Meaningful Connectivity (UMC) of 164 members states for the period 2025. 

The UMC concept is based on the premise that realising the full potential of connectivity requires more than access, it also means addressing barriers such as affordability, digital skills, and connection quality.

Namibia has welcomed the improved index as the above average scores affirm the country’s progress in expanding access, affordability, and quality of service. 

“We rededicate our efforts to prioritise internet use and adoption to strengthen our universal connectivity pillar. Our strategic intent will also focus on access, mobile broadband penetration and affordability through ongoing network expansion and discontinuation of legacy technologies in favour of new emergency technologies capable of providing meaningful connectivity,” said Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) CEO, Emilia Nghikembua.

By building onto these gains and addressing the remaining gaps, Namibia is well-positioned to advance towards a more inclusive and resilient digital economy. Cran can expect further improvements due to work done in terms of affordability and roll-out of services.

Data from the preceding collection period is used to calculate the DI; meaning that the 2025 index is based on data from 2023 submitted by the Cran to the ITU. The ITU uses the DI to track member states’ UMC progress. The first IDI was released in 2023. Overall, the report shows that ITU is satisfied the 2025 results show continued global advances in connectivity, with all economies improving. The report also notes that low-income countries tend to be progressing the fastest, although from a low base.

This finding underscores the growing acknowledgement that digital transformation is attainable even in resource-constrained settings, provided there is strategic commitment and enabling policy. 

“We are therefore pleased with this increase as it is well aligned with some of our strategic initiatives and policy oversight from the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (MICT) as implemented during the reporting period,” remarked Nghikembua.

Scoring comparison

The IDI score is an average of two pillars that measures universal connectivity and meaningful connectivity.

In 2025 Namibia’s Universal Connectivity Pillar scored 63% and the Meaningful Connectivity Pillar scored 83.5%. The two UMC pillars translate to an DI of 73.2% in 2025, which signifies a 6% increase from the 68% achieved in 2023.

Comparatively, Namibia has done well compared to its peers in the SADC region such as Malawi 35.4%, Zimbabwe 56.8%, Zambia 60.3%, and Mozambique with 32.4%. The leaders in SADC are Botswana 82.1%, South Africa 85.0 %, and Mauritius at 86.3 %. Namibia also did well compared to other larger African economies such as Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana.

It must be noted that the DI’s dataset is complemented by other datasets to provide the results cited herein. One such complementing dataset is the Global Cybersecurity Index. In accordance with this index, Namibia has improved from a score of 11.47 in 2020 to a score of 36.93 in 2024, representing a net positive contribution to overall ICT development.

Nghikembua clarified: “Namibia was scored as an upper middle-income economy, because the data set used is for a period before the recent economic reclassification. This is important, because the DI score acknowledges that there is a strong correlation between digital development and overall economic development.”  The ITU indicates that at lower income levels, small income differences are typically associated with large variations in DI scores. This suggests that even marginal improvements in national income or targeted investments can yield significant digital dividends in countries like Namibia.

What does the score mean?

Universal Connectivity Pillar scored 63% – The indicators in this pillar relates to Internet use and adoption, which rely more on consumer behaviour. Namibia’s score is higher than the average Africa score of 47%.

Meaningful Connectivity Pillar scored 83.5% – This pillar is driven by infrastructure indicators and reflects the level of network deployment and investment strategies. Namibia’s score is higher than the average Africa score of 65%, which signifies the impact of rollout obligations imposed on operators to expand 4G networks beyond major urban areas.