{{Short description|Telecommunications infrastructure provider and subsidiary of Telecom Namibia}} {{Infobox company | name = PowerCom (Pty) Ltd | logo = | type = | foundation = 2007 | location = Windhoek, Namibia | key_people = Mr. Beatus Amadhila (Chief Executive Officer) | num_employees = | revenue = | industry = Telecommunications infrastructure | parent = Telecom Namibia | products = | homepage = [http://www.powercom.na/ www.powercom.na] | subsidiaries = }}
'''PowerCom (Pty) Ltd''', commonly known as '''PowerCom''', is a Namibian telecommunications infrastructure provider and a wholly owned subsidiary of Telecom Namibia. Originally established in 2007 as Namibia's second mobile operator under the brand '''Cell One''', the company was later rebranded as '''Leo''' before being acquired by Telecom Namibia in 2013.<ref name="telecom2012">{{Cite web |title=Telecom Namibia Completes Powercom (Pty) Ltd t/a Leo Acquisition |url=https://www.telecom.na/media-centre/275-telecom-namibia-completes-powercom-pty-ltd-t-a-leo-acquisition |publisher=Telecom Namibia |date=29 November 2012 |access-date=15 September 2025}}</ref> Since then, PowerCom has operated as Telecom Namibia's infrastructure subsidiary, holding a Class Network Facilities Licence issued by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) under the Communications Act (No. 8 of 2009).
The company focuses on constructing, managing, and leasing telecommunications towers and related infrastructure across Namibia.<ref name="issuu">{{Cite web |title=PowerCom (Pty) Ltd |url=https://issuu.com/travelnewsnamibia/docs/flynamibia_january_2024_issuu/s/41499921 |website=FlyNamibia |publisher=FlyNamibia Magazine |date=January 2024 |access-date=15 September 2025}}</ref>
== History == PowerCom was founded in 2007 when the Namibian government licensed the company, under the brand name '''Cell One''', as the country's second mobile operator in an effort to introduce competition to the monopoly held by Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC).<ref name="republicna">{{Cite web |title=The rise of Namibia's mobile industry |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXTVwvAUNbc |publisher=The Republic NA |date=27 August 2023 |access-date=15 September 2025}}</ref>
Cell One launched with aggressive pricing strategies and invested in its own mobile network infrastructure. However, the company struggled financially to compete against the entrenched MTC, which had a much larger customer base and national coverage.
In 2009, Cell One was acquired by Egyptian-owned Telecel Globe, a subsidiary of Orascom Telecom, and subsequently rebranded as '''Leo'''. Despite significant investment, Leo failed to achieve long-term commercial viability.
On 2 March 2012, Telecom Namibia entered into a Sale of Shares Agreement with Guinea Fowl Investments Two (Pty) Ltd, PowerCom (Pty) Ltd, Investec Bank Ltd, and Nedbank Ltd to acquire PowerCom t/a Leo. The transaction was approved by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) on 11 October 2012 and by the Namibia Competition Commission on 27 April 2012. The acquisition was finalized on 29 November 2012, with Telecom Namibia purchasing 100% of PowerCom's equity interest for a nominal N$2.00, while assuming Leo's debt obligations of approximately N$180 million.<ref name="telecom2012" />
[[File:TNmobilelogo.jpg|thumb|200px| '''tn mobile''', first introduced as '''Cell One''' in 2007 and later renamed '''Leo''' in 2009, is the mobile telecommunications division of Telecom Namibia.<ref>[http://www.az.com.na/wirtschaft/cell-one-verndert-namen.91338.php Allgemeine Zeitung] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722234543/http://www.az.com.na/wirtschaft/cell-one-verndert-namen.91338.php |date=2011-07-22 }} Renaming of Cell One to Leo</ref>
In 2012, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) approved the takeover of Leo by Telecom Namibia. The brand was re-launched in 2013 as '''tn mobile''' ('''T'''elecom '''N'''amibia '''Mobile''').]]
Following the acquisition, Leo's mobile operations were merged into Telecom Namibia's mobile division, later branded as tn mobile. The PowerCom entity itself was retained and repurposed as Telecom Namibia's infrastructure subsidiary. Since 2013, PowerCom has focused on building and leasing telecommunications towers, repositioning itself as a key provider of ICT infrastructure solutions.<ref name="issuu" />
== Services == PowerCom provides a range of infrastructure services to mobile operators, broadcasters, and other ICT providers:
* '''Tower space leasing''' – leasing space on PowerCom towers to mobile, broadcasting, and transmission operators on medium- to long-term agreements. * '''Managed services (rooftops)''' – hosting equipment on rooftops of strategic urban buildings in partnership with property owners. * '''Third-party co-location''' – enabling ICT equipment installation on alternative elevated structures, such as municipal water towers and utility infrastructure.<ref name="issuu" />
== See also == * Telecommunications in Namibia * Telecom Namibia * MTC Namibia * Paratus Namibia
== References == <references />
Category:Namibian brands Category:Namibian companies established in 2007 Category:Telecommunications companies of Namibia Category:Telecommunications companies established in 2007 Category:2007 establishments in Namibia Category:Government-owned companies of Namibia Category:Mobile phone companies of Namibia Category:Telecommunications companies of Africa Category:Communications in Namibia