Loc8 has reportedly entered Namibia’s 5G arena, aiming to launch its network in Q1 2026 after years of securing telecoms licences for both 4G and 5G spectrum.
According to IT Web Africa, Loc8 becomes the third telecoms player to be awarded a 5G licence, alongside Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) and Telecom Namibia. Loc8 was initially a software company specialising in geo-location tech for apps when launching in 2016, and has over the years pivoted to telecoms by securing telecom licences.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has allocated spectrum in the 703–788MHz and 790–862MHz bands. Licences include a quality-of-service obligation requiring operators to maintain download speeds of at least 20Mbps.
MTC was the first operator to deploy commercial 5G services, launching in August this year. Loc8 will compete with Telecom Namibia to go live second, which is also targeting an early 2026 rollout.
Loc8 CEO Collin Uirab said the operator already has a commercial component in place and will focus on connecting urban consumers and industries, with particular emphasis on IoT applications in sectors such as mining.
He added the company has secured several fibre routes and direct access to subsea cables to strengthen network resilience.
Separately, Paratus recently announced plans to launch Namibia’s first private 5G network.
