Namibia’s envisaged Universal Internet Connectivity Access Fund, which aims to improve network connection around the country, including for schools and clinics, is expected to come into effect during the 2023/24 financial year, The Brief can exclusively reveal.
“We are still setting up all the necessary regulations to put it in motion, and the different network operators are being notified by the regulator, CRAN, on how the levies will be collected and put into the access fund. So, unless there is something concrete then the public can be updated,” Information and Communication Technology Deputy Minister Emma Theofelus told The Brief.
Namibia is following in the footsteps of several countries across the world which established the Universal Services Fund to fund projects and programmes that strive to achieve universal service and access to ICTs by all their citizens.
Through the fund, Namibia plans to upgrade 122 communication towers to 4G level and construct an additional 36 internet communication towers in rural areas.
The Fund will also pay for the 4G routers, with uncapped data to secondary and vocational schools as well as to clinics in areas with insufficient coverage.
According to Theofelus, Namibia also plans to establish a national cyber and security incident response team that would support operations of cyber-resilience for the country.
The government’s plans on network coverage comes as listed telecommunication entity – Mobile Telecommunications (MTC) Limited, through its 081Every1 network project launched in August 2017 – is targeting to achieve close to 100% population coverage countrywide, enabling the migration of its network capabilities from 2G to 3G in rural areas, and 3G to 4G in towns.
The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) recently told Parliament that lack of funding was derailing major plans of implementing capital projects that would increase access to ICT services.
“Unlike other sectors such as works, energy, and water, the ICT sector is not privileged to funding or budget appropriation for Capital Expenditure Projects, which makes it difficult for policy development and consultancy. Hence there is a need for stakeholder collaboration, to converge resources and establish the sector through the Universal Service,” the ministry said in a report submitted to Parliament.
The ministry thus suggested that, to make the fund work and for ease implementation, it is vital to develop funding models, create a budget appropriation for ICT infrastructure as well as Forming Public Private Partnership in the operationalisation of the Universal Service Fund.
The ministry also proposed the introduction of sector specific tax incentives and reduces the cost of devices to end users
“The advent of COVID-19 taught us that access to quality broadband and ICT services is no longer a luxury but a basic need. More than ever before, the demand for data, and connectivity to access online services, work, and study went up exponentially. ICT became the backbone and machinery that enabled all other sectors of the economy to thrive. Time to reconsider our investment in ICT infrastructure, services, and cybersecurity to secure our digital assets,” read the report.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary committee chairperson Modestus Amutse said it was crucial to develop the sector as it will transform the country into a digital nation.
“Thus, this Committee may consult and liaise with the relevant institutions, monitor, enquire into, and make recommendations to the Assembly on matters that may directly or indirectly affect information, communication and technology as well as promoting the culture of innovation in Namibia,”
“We have a crucial task before us, which needs nothing else, but commitment from all of us to move Namibia to the next level of digital transformation. Our responsibility here is to ensure that at the end of this engagement, we should come up with an implementable way forward that would eventually create an environment where our youth from underprivileged families can access information using free wi-fi,” he added.
Amutse says he is confident that PPP will help in making sure free WiFi is gradually advanced to all critical areas.
“Namibia has a small population to make commercial gains when one focuses on profit making vs the expenditure on infrastructural development, but this is the Namibia we have and irrespective of its population size, we ought to create a better Namibia under the prevailing circumstances. I am cognizant of the fact that when planning to give network coverage using wi-fi, it is important to first design the network, before deciding on what hardware or device to use. These include site survey, Network architecture and applicable Technology. The site survey aims to determine the size of the network considering the space that needs to be covered while minimizing network interference and maximize network coverage,”
He therefore hopes the engagement will highlight possible challenges, determine the required network architecture, such as the approximate number of devices connected, and types of information that need to be transmitted.
“Equally important is for you as experts in the network industry to advise this Committee on the suitable network architecture and relevant policy framework as well as device range such as the types of wireless range extender or repeaters as often referred to, support protocols and transmission speed needed for a free wi-fi in our own environment,” he said.
“I want to conclude by saying, the rapid evolution and complexity of digital technologies, which moved the direction of e-learning, e-commerce and e-government demand that now is the right time to act, because no one will develop Namibia for us, if not ourselves. Namibia, there is no reverse when it comes to implementing free wi-fi, free wi-fi will gradually find its way to the public, until the whole country is satisfactorily covered, but that demands everybody’s efforts,” he said optimistically.
