Telecom Namibia secures N$405m to upgrade networks
RMB Namibia has provided Telecom Namibia with a N$405 million, seven-year social loan to support the state-owned telecoms company's drive to modernise its infrastructure and expand affordable internet access across the country.
Telecom Namibia CEO Stanley Shanapinda said the investment was tied directly to national development goals.
"Telecom's key objective is to ensure that every citizen can access and use entertainment, communication, information, education, commerce, and online health services through fast, reliable, and affordable internet, voice, and data connectivity. The strategy is closely aligned with Namibia's national development plan, making this transaction a direct investment in the country's socio-economic progress," he said.
Namibia's digital infrastructure lags behind much of the continent. Eleven of the country's 14 regions fall below the 95% broadband policy target, and Namibia ranks 22nd out of 47 Sub-Saharan African nations for broadband speed, with a mean download rate of just 10.8 Mbps. Ageing copper networks, limited fibre coverage, and heavy reliance on 2G and 3G technology continue to hold back access.
The loan will fund two main projects: a fibre-to-the-home rollout targeting speeds of 25 Mbps and above, meeting the newly announced national minimum, and upgrades to mobile network base stations to support the shift from 2G/3G to 4G and future 5G capability.
Leonard Hamunyela, transactor at RMB Namibia, said the deal went beyond bricks-and-mortar infrastructure.
"This partnership with Telecom is more than just financing infrastructure — it is about enabling digital inclusion. Enhanced broadband and mobile connectivity will empower Namibians with improved access to essential services, while strengthening the country's competitiveness in the digital economy," he said.
RMB structured the funding as a social loan under the Loan Market Association's Social Loan Principles, an internationally recognised framework for financing activity that delivers measurable social benefits. The loan is specifically aimed at narrowing the digital divide between urban and rural communities.
