Telecom Namibia Launches Network Modernisation Programme Following Service Disruptions
According to the company, the disruptions were caused by a combination of aging infrastructure, failures of critical network hardware, instability on certain international connectivity routes, and a rise in criminal activities involving copper theft and vandalism.
Telecom Namibia has acknowledged recent service disruptions that affected customers across the country and announced a comprehensive network modernisation programme aimed at improving service reliability, network performance, and customer experience.
The national telecommunications operator said customers have experienced interruptions to both fixed and mobile services in recent months, including slower network performance in some areas. According to the company, the disruptions were caused by a combination of aging infrastructure, failures of critical network hardware, instability on certain international connectivity routes, and a rise in criminal activities involving copper theft and vandalism.
While many incidents were resolved as they occurred, Telecom Namibia said it recognizes the need for long-term solutions that go beyond restoring services and focus on strengthening the resilience of its network infrastructure.
To address the challenges, the company has begun implementing an extensive modernisation programme that includes replacing end-of-life network equipment, upgrading the national backbone network from multiple 10 Gbps links to multiple 100 Gbps capacity, expanding international connectivity gateways, and modernising core mobile infrastructure that supports voice, SMS, and data services.
Additional measures include the deployment of enhanced network monitoring systems, strengthening redundancy across key network routes, accelerating fibre network expansion, and increasing security protections to combat vandalism and infrastructure theft.
Telecom Namibia expects customers to begin seeing noticeable improvements by October 2026, including greater network stability in major population centres, fewer large-scale service outages, improved internet performance, and faster fault restoration times.
By December 2026, the company aims to complete several major backbone and international gateway upgrades, resulting in improved mobile data performance, increased network capacity, and enhanced service availability for customers nationwide.
The operator has also set a target of June 2027 for the completion of key phases of its national network modernisation programme. Once completed, the project is expected to significantly improve network reliability and provide a modern telecommunications platform capable of supporting Namibia’s long-term digital transformation objectives.
Telecom Namibia identified infrastructure vandalism and copper theft as major contributors to service interruptions, revealing that more than 80 incidents were recorded between February and May 2026. The company said it is working closely with law enforcement agencies, government institutions, and local communities to tackle the problem and urged the public to report suspicious activities involving telecommunications infrastructure.
The operator reaffirmed its commitment to restoring customer confidence through continued investment, transparency, and accountability, adding that regular updates will be provided as progress is made on the various upgrade initiatives.
