The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has cancelled the spectrum licences granted to UCOM Mobile Namibia, previously known as Mobile Telephone Networks Business Solutions Namibia (MTN).

CRAN, in a statement on Monday, said the High Court granted a default judgement against UCOM Mobile Namibia on November 16, 2023.

This is a result of its inability to settle over N$19.3 million in licence fees following fruitless mediation efforts.

CRAN Chief Executive Officer Emilia Nghikembua said UCOM Mobile Namibia also failed to efficiently use the allotted spectrum, resulting in spectrum hoarding.

She said non-payment of spectrum fees and hoarding of spectrum constitute a material infringement of the licence requirements and are grounds for licence revocation.

CRAN held extensive conversations with UCOM Mobile Namibia over a period of time to find a durable solution to the compliance issues. Still, such interactions did not yield any remedial outcomes, stated Nghikembua.

She added that considering the impact of this decision on consumers and UCOM Mobile Namibia, CRAN has granted UCOM six months until June 2024 to facilitate the migration of their approximately one thousand customers and to conduct an orderly wind-up of their operations.

After the stipulated period, all services will be terminated, as stated by Nghikembua.