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Telecommunications in Namibia include radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.

Radio and television

Per 1,000 inhabitants, there were 50 TV sets and 137 radio sets in Namibia in 2008.

  • Radio stations:
  • State-run radio service broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007);
  • AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001);
  • AM 2, FM 34, shortwave 5 (1998).

Since Independence in 1990, Namibia has seen a dramatic growth in radio stations, with both commercial (for instance Radio 99, Radio Wave, Radio Energy, Omulunga Radio, West Coast FM, etc.) and community (UNAM Radio, Katutura Community Radio, etc.) receiving licences. Most of these stations broadcast various types of music format, and political discussions, news and phone-in programs remain mostly the domain of the national broadcaster (NBC) which broadcasts nine radio services nationally (in various Namibian languages, including German - the only full-time German service outside of Europe), plus the new !Ha service, broadcasting to the San community in Tsumkwe.

  • Television stations: 1 private and 1 state-run TV station; satellite and cable TV service is available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007).

The commercial "free to air" station is One Africa Television, the successor to the now defunct TVAfrica. It has expanded its transmitter network and is now available in most major towns and cities in Namibia. In 2007 it commenced broadcasting a local television news bulletin each evening.

Telephones

  • Calling code: +264
  • Main lines in use: and the West Africa Cable System (WACS) submarine cables, as well as the South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cable through South Africa (2010).
  • Fixed broadband: 61,698 subscriptions, 131st in the world (2019).
  • Wireless broadband: 624,257 subscriptions, 86th in the world; 28.8% of the population, 56th in the world (2012).
  • Internet hosts: 78,280 hosts, 84th in the world (2012).

<!--* Internet Service Providers:

  • 10 ISPs (2006),
  • &nbsp;&nbsp;6 ISPs (2000),
  • &nbsp;&nbsp;4 ISPs (1999).-->

Telecom Namibia, which has offered ADSL access since late 2006, has a de facto monopoly on ADSL access. Their monopoly was unsuccessfully challenged in the courts by MWeb Namibia in May 2007 and again in August 2011.

In February 2007, ISP Namibia Mweb began offering broadband wireless services through WiMax, making Namibia the second African country (after Mozambique) to do so.

Internet censorship and surveillance

There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet; however, the Communications Act provides that the intelligence services can monitor e-mail and Internet usage with authorization from any magistrate. There have been some allegations and rumors that the government reviewed ways to block or curtail social media sites, but there is no concrete evidence of such action.

The constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press, and the government generally respects these rights.