Namibia regulator to suspend awarding new telecom, broadcasting licenses

WINDHOEK, April 1 — Namibia’s communications regulator said Friday that awarding of new telecommunications and broadcasting licenses will be suspended from Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) will not accept new applications during the period, but will consider applications for amendment, withdrawal, transfer, and cession of existing telecommunications or broadcasting service licenses when practically possible, CRAN CEO Emilia Nghikembua said in a statement.
She said CRAN will accept and consider applications for spectrum licenses from existing service licensees only, and will also accept spectrum applications for bands that are service license-exempt.
Nghikembua said Namibia will be conducting a market study, which should be based on a fixed data set, particularly the number of telecommunications and broadcasting service licenses currently in the market.
“While the temporary postponement of the award of new telecommunications and broadcasting service licenses will impact the business plans of prospective providers or telecommunications and broadcasting services, it is paramount that CRAN continuously intervenes in the market dynamics to ensure fair competition, and remove barriers to market entry for the benefit of consumers,” she said.  (Xinhua)