Revenue from mobile voice and SMS services in Namibia show a consistent decline while data revenue continues to grow.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) stated that the proportion of revenue derived from data has surged from 35% in 2017 to 63% in 2022. In the same period, overall service revenues expanded by 11%.
“In 2022, mobile data revenue accounted for 74% of all data revenues. The asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) share of total data revenue declined from 23% to a mere 11%, while fibre to the home (FTTH) rose to 8% from 5% in 2017,” reads the report published by the regulator.
ADSL is a type of digital technology that provides high-speed internet connectivity over copper telephone lines. It’s called asymmetric because the download speed is typically much greater than the upload speed. This technology allows digital information to be transmitted faster than with traditional dial-up connections.
While FTTH is the installation and use of optical fibre from a central point to individual buildings to provide high-speed internet access.
Collectively, Cran stated that data revenue demonstrated an impressive 72% growth over the past five years, 2017 to 2022. Universal broadband access in Namibia is clearly mobile with wired broadband serving as a supplementary service tailored to a limited segment of the Namibian population.
Through its publication titled ‘ICT Sector - Regulatory Environment Assessment 2023’, Cran informed that the telecommunication sector can be made more competitive through private investments and thus by reducing state-ownership.
“Alternatively, competition may be revived by attracting foreign direct investment by issuing a licence with bundled spectrum that does not have an ownership restriction. The opening of infrastructure such as fibre services to all licensees may also serve as a model for all state-owned critical infrastructure. Open access principles should also be enforced in cases such as infrastructure sharing and rights of way.
Open access for critical infrastructure needs to become the default business practice instead of the exception,” advised the regulator.