Cran curtails UCOM's telco ambitions temporarily
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) this week confiscated UCOM’s radio equipment and shut down its network, effectively preventing it from carrying out any operations.
The move stems from UCOM’s inability to settle outstanding licence fees owed to Cran and the inefficient use of the awarded spectrum, which resulted in spectrum hoarding and constituted a material breach of UCOM’s licence conditions, Cran executive spokesperson Mufaro Nesongano said.
“This decision was not taken lightly but is necessary to protect the proper use of radio spectrum and to ensure better service for customers,” he added.
This is not UCOM’s first run-in with the telecommunications regulator. On 16 February 2023 and 8 December 2023 respectively, Cran resolved to cancel all spectrum licences awarded to UCOM.
Considering the impact of this decision on consumers and UCOM, Cran had granted UCOM a six-month period until June 2024 to facilitate the migration of approximately 1 000 customers and to conduct an orderly wind-up of their operations. After this period, all services were to be terminated.
Spectrum audits conducted in July, September and October 2025 found that UCOM Mobile Namibia was still providing services in contravention of section 101(1) of the Communications Act 8 of 2009.
On 3 October 2025, UCOM was again instructed to immediately cease using any radio frequency spectrum and to provide written confirmation to the authority within 24 hours but failed to do so. Despite this instruction, UCOM refused or failed to comply. The continued illegal transmissions from UCOM are now causing interference with the networks of other duly licensed operators and affecting the quality of the consumer experience.
“UCOM was given sufficient time - since December 2023 - to address its compliance issues but did not do so. Customers affected by this interruption are encouraged to move their services to licensed operators to continue enjoying reliable products and services in the Namibian market,” Nesongano said.
UCOM formerly traded as MTN Namibia until September 2022, when it exited the Namibian telecommunications market. In July last year, UCOM and BDQ Mobile Network Solutions, a company operating in the telecommunications sector, entered into an agreement to launch Namibia's third mobile operator after MTC and TN Mobile.
Under the agreement, BDQ Mobile Network Solutions, in partnership with VANU Technology, committed to investing in network infrastructure - including antennas and radios - totaling 500 towers, envisaged to be deployed over the next three years, with the first phase rollout starting in the first quarter of 2025. The partnership also included management technology through the billing system (OSS, BSS), providing end-to-end solutions for billing flow and collection.
The move stems from UCOM’s inability to settle outstanding licence fees owed to Cran and the inefficient use of the awarded spectrum, which resulted in spectrum hoarding and constituted a material breach of UCOM’s licence conditions, Cran executive spokesperson Mufaro Nesongano said.
“This decision was not taken lightly but is necessary to protect the proper use of radio spectrum and to ensure better service for customers,” he added.
This is not UCOM’s first run-in with the telecommunications regulator. On 16 February 2023 and 8 December 2023 respectively, Cran resolved to cancel all spectrum licences awarded to UCOM.
Considering the impact of this decision on consumers and UCOM, Cran had granted UCOM a six-month period until June 2024 to facilitate the migration of approximately 1 000 customers and to conduct an orderly wind-up of their operations. After this period, all services were to be terminated.
Spectrum audits conducted in July, September and October 2025 found that UCOM Mobile Namibia was still providing services in contravention of section 101(1) of the Communications Act 8 of 2009.
On 3 October 2025, UCOM was again instructed to immediately cease using any radio frequency spectrum and to provide written confirmation to the authority within 24 hours but failed to do so. Despite this instruction, UCOM refused or failed to comply. The continued illegal transmissions from UCOM are now causing interference with the networks of other duly licensed operators and affecting the quality of the consumer experience.
“UCOM was given sufficient time - since December 2023 - to address its compliance issues but did not do so. Customers affected by this interruption are encouraged to move their services to licensed operators to continue enjoying reliable products and services in the Namibian market,” Nesongano said.
UCOM formerly traded as MTN Namibia until September 2022, when it exited the Namibian telecommunications market. In July last year, UCOM and BDQ Mobile Network Solutions, a company operating in the telecommunications sector, entered into an agreement to launch Namibia's third mobile operator after MTC and TN Mobile.
Under the agreement, BDQ Mobile Network Solutions, in partnership with VANU Technology, committed to investing in network infrastructure - including antennas and radios - totaling 500 towers, envisaged to be deployed over the next three years, with the first phase rollout starting in the first quarter of 2025. The partnership also included management technology through the billing system (OSS, BSS), providing end-to-end solutions for billing flow and collection.
