STAFF WRITER
The Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has noted a significant reduction in cyber-threat events in the last three months of this year.
CRAN released its Quarterly Statistics Bulletin for the period July to September 2025 showing a marked decline in cyber threats by about 53%.
The regulatory authority however warned that exposure levels and underlying vulnerabilities remained largely unchanged.
This suggests that the reduction stems more from shifts in scanning activity than a true decrease in cyber risk, CRAN said .
CRAN Executive: Communication and Consumer Relations at CRAN, Mufaro Nesongano, said they have also recorded an increase in the proportion of SIM cards used for internet access surging from from 61% to 63%.
He said this reflected continued migration toward data-driven communication services.
”The total number of active SIM cards increased by 3%, marking a shift from the stability observed in Quarter 2. This growth was largely driven by a 3% rise in prepaid subscriptions, while postpaid subscriptions grew by only 1%. Mobile broadband usage rose by 6%, and dongle and router-based broadband subscriptions increased significantly by 30%, although from a relatively small base indicating renewed interest in fixed mobile wireless alternatives,” Nesongano said.
CRAN’s bulletin provides an in-depth analysis of market performance and emerging trends across the telecommunications, cybersecurity, broadcasting, and postal sectors.
The report covers key indicators, including Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) usage for internet access, fixed internet subscriptions, mobile traffic volumes, ICT sector revenue and investment, cyber vulnerabilities and threat activity, pay-tv subscriptions, and postal box utilisation.
According to CRAN fixed-line subscriptions declined by 2%, continuing the downward long-term trend across both residential and business segments.
“In the third quarter of 2025, total mobile outgoing minutes increased by 8%, marking the second consecutive quarter of recovery following a sharp decline in Q1. SMS traffic increased marginally by 1%, showing early signs of stabilisation. Mobile data usage grew significantly, driven largely by a surge in consumption from Paratus Telecommunications Limited following the launch of their new LTE network and associated PAGE 6 packages in August 2025,” said Nesongano.
CRAN said ICT revenue registered a modest 1% increase in quarter three , maintaining the sector’s steady growth trajectory.
The regulator added that investments in the telecommunications sector also increased slightly, recovering from the notable decline recorded in the previous quarter.
“The rural post office network also remained unchanged, with 83% of post offices situated in rural areas, continuing to provide universal connectivity of vital communication and parcel services in underserved communities,” said Nesongano.
CRAN said the broadcasting sector recorded an average 3.5% increase in pay-TV subscriptions. According to CRAN, DSTV subscriptions grew by 4%, potentially due to ongoing sports programming such as the English Premier League, while GoTV subscriptions decreased by 3%, possibly a result of competition from over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms.
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