- Namibia’s leading operator switches on 5G in four cities, bringing faster speeds and new digital services.
- The Buffalo Project tackles weak rural networks, while a UN deal extends digital tools to wider society.
MTC Namibia expands mobile and broadband access
With more than two million subscribers, MTC remains Namibia’s top operator and has now introduced commercial 5G in Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Ongwediva to power IoT, cloud integration and new mobile technologies.
In parallel, the company unveiled the Buffalo Project after auditing northern networks in towns such as Outapi, Oshakati, Rundu and Katima Mulilo. Findings included legacy 2G/3G equipment, low tower heights and constrained LTE reach. Working with Huawei, MTC plans site relocations, tower elevation and broader 4G expansion to stabilise rural performance. MTC’s latest company profile notes ~2.17 million active subscribers, underscoring the operator’s national footprint.
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MTC Namibia matters to the country’s digital future
Namibia’s digital divide has long mirrored geography: dense urban centres benefit first, while remote communities are constrained by ageing sites and patchy backhaul. The dual push—5G for cities, structural upgrades for rural areas—directly targets that imbalance, enabling better access to e-learning, tele-health and rural commerce. Beyond infrastructure, MTC has signed a five-year partnership with the United Nations in Namibia to channel connectivity into national priorities under Vision 2030 and the government’s development plans. The programme spans youth empowerment, digital identity systems, mobile financial inclusion, smart agriculture and rural service delivery—linking carrier investment to measurable social outcomes.
For operators across Africa, high capex, energy reliability and regulatory timelines remain persistent headwinds. MTC’s model—pairing technology upgrades (5G, LTE optimisation) with multi-stakeholder development—shows how telcos can de-risk adoption, widen inclusion and anchor a more resilient digital economy.
