Paratus Group, a rapidly expanding digital infrastructure provider headquartered in Windhoek, Namibia, is preparing to launch a new mobile data network that could disrupt the country’s telecommunications landscape. The launch, scheduled for 2 September 2025, marks Paratus’s entry into Namibia’s mobile market, which is currently dominated by state-owned entities.
Barney Harmse, Executive Chairman of Paratus Group, revealed the company’s plans to introduce a data-only mobile network designed to offer high-speed internet access across Namibia. The network will leverage both low-band and high-band spectrum, enabling a combination of wide geographic coverage and high-performance connectivity tailored to consumer needs.
Namibia’s mobile telecommunications sector is currently controlled by two state-owned operators: MTC, which holds over 90% market share, and Namibia Telecom, which operates under the TN Mobile brand and accounts for the remaining 8–10%. MTC offers 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE, and limited 5G services in Windhoek and select urban centers.
Paratus’s entry as the first private mobile operator in Namibia is poised to introduce much-needed competition. Although the initial offering will focus exclusively on mobile data services, it could catalyze broader changes in the market’s competitive dynamics.
“We will be the first private operator venturing into this space,” Harmse stated. He emphasized that Paratus has held the necessary licenses from the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) for several years, positioning the company well for this expansion.
Harmse acknowledged that MTC is likely to respond aggressively to Paratus’s market entry. “They won’t hold back their punches,” he said. However, he made it clear that Paratus does not intend to engage in a price war. “We will be competitive where it matters. At the end of the day, what distinguishes you from the rest … is [good customer] service.”
Paratus already has a strong presence in Namibia’s fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) market and is known for its robust infrastructure across Southern Africa. The mobile network launch is part of a broader strategy to deepen its footprint in the region and offer integrated connectivity solutions.
In addition to its local ambitions, Harmse disclosed that Paratus is exploring a potential listing on the New York Stock Exchange in the coming years. While no formal decisions have been made, the move would signal the company’s intent to attract international investment and scale its operations beyond Africa.
