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The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) is making the 800 MHz and 700 MHz spectrum bands available in the current calendar year. This will allow operators to increase the current population coverage from 85% to 88% without adding any towers reducing the cost to operators and consumers.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) is making the 800 MHz and 700 MHz spectrum bands available in the current calendar year. This will allow operators to increase the current population coverage from 85% to 88% without adding any towers reducing the cost to operators and consumers.
These two spectrum bands will also allow operators to roll out 5G services in addition to 4G services, ensuring the optimal use of the spectrum to foster digital inclusivity throughout Namibia. CRAN spokesperson, Katrina Sikeni is upbeat about the prospects of a major leap in 2023 for the Namibian ICT sector.
Sikeni says the growth of the Namibian ICT sector is important if Namibia is to become an active knowledge-based society that benefits from the full socio-economic benefits of technology. There will be improved provision and offering of a variety of affordable services and a wider range of ICT products in 2023, she says.
This will be accompanied by enhanced legislative frameworks pertaining to electronic transactions, postal services, data protection, cybersecurity laws, and the implementation of new regulations for the importation of telecommunications equipment into Namibia. Other key expectations include the establishment of the Cyber Incident Response Team in the country, with provision for resources to operationalise it. One of the major focuses is value creation in driving sustainable economic growth and enabling better healthcare, education, and government services, and, in the process, enriching human society through a revised regulatory framework.
Considering the market trend for the previous five years, MTC is expected to continue dominating the market in mobile revenue due to its active subscriber numbers in comparison to that of Telecom Namibia, MTN Business, and Paratus.Fixed data revenues are also expected to increase as more people realise the importance of residential fixed internet connectivity, such as ADSL or fibre, to the home after the Covid-19 pandemic. The Equiano undersea cable that landed on Namibian shores would bring about more internet capacity, which could trigger competition among the market leaders due to more capacity for innovation and related services. For consistent growth, the regulator will continue to ensure that consumers are offered fair and affordable prices in terms of ICT products and services.
In a recent report, Green Enterprise Solutions managing director Kehad Snydewel said Namibia needs to digitise a lot of processes to achieve efficiency and mentioned a good start could be the digitalisation of records, databases, and processes within corporations, small and medium enterprises, as well as in the government and municipalities. Implementing electronic digital records management (EDRM) means processes can be sped up and will be easily searchable and retrievable. By safely storing this type of data in the Cloud, organisations have access to information wherever they may be located within Namibia or beyond. Applying for loans, driving licenses, processing insurance claims, and a hundred other things will be made easier and more dynamic with the implementation of EDRM.
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CRAN plans to ensure the provision of services to 95% of the population by 2024 in line with the provisions of the country’s broadband policy. While the ICT environment is highly complex and challenging, it has made significant strides in making a tangible contribution to all sectors of the Namibian economy.
