Lightstruck has entered into an agreement with the City of Windhoek’s City Link initiative, to advance the city’s fibre network commercialisation efforts.
City of Windhoek’s Councillor and Chairperson of the Financial Sustainability, Performance Management, and Policy Advisory Committee Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma said as part of the agreement, Lightstruck has subscribed to a cutting-edge 1GB per second connection.
“This successful partnership enabled the City to fully comply with the CRAN condition that it must transact on the licence before the end of July 2024. I am sure you will all agree that this is a very positive indicator of the project’s progress and potential to attract businesses to Windhoek,” he said.
This comes as part of the city’s new Strategic Plan (2022-2027, where it intends to optimise the total capacity of the approximately 120 kilometres of under-utilised fibre network by commercialising it.
Nujoma said the City Link – a dedicated business unit established within the City of Windhoek – is entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the commercialisation of the fibre network.
“This unit will be responsible for managing the technical aspects of the project, including the installation and maintenance of the fibre network, as well as the negotiation and management of client contracts,” he said.
He said one of the project’s critical success factors was the awarding of Class Comprehensive Electronic Communications Network Services/Electronic Communications Services (ECNS/ECS) Spectrum licences by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN).
“The commercialisation of the fibre network presents a significant business opportunity that can potentially create a much-needed revenue stream for the City. This strategic initiative not only enhances the Council’s operational efficiency, but also improves service offerings to residents, businesses, and investors. It also facilitates seamless online transactions and provides access to real-time, reliable data,” said Nujoma.
Moreover, the project aims to introduce additional, economic development opportunities for the City’s residents, and empower the youth to participate in the City’s eco-system.
“By accommodating small and medium enterprises on the City’s technology platforms, the project is set to make a substantial impact,” he said.
Furthermore, Nujoma highlighted that the project will bridge the digital divide by increasing access to affordable internet connectivity, thereby assisting entrepreneurs and school-going youth with their academic pursuits.
Lightstruck Holdings is planning to roll out a N$500-million project to develop the country’s first-ever open-access fibre network.
The first open-access fibre network went live in Khomasdal recently with Rocky Crest, Rehoboth and Osona up next.
Late last year, Eos-managed Namibia Infrastructure Development and Investment Fund acquired a stake in Lightstruck Holdings which will support the expansion of last-mile fibre infrastructure into towns and communities that were previously underserved.
