Overview of ICT Infrastructure in Namibia
Namibia's technology (ICT) infrastructure is amongst the best in Africa. However, technological activities are mostly urban based and tends to follow the traditional diffusion pattern of the national road network, except in broadcasting whereby radio and TV programmes are well covered countrywide.
The telecommunications backbone switching and transmission network was 100 percent digitalised in 1999 with state-of-the-art underground fibre-optic cabling, which facilitates access to advanced technologies, products, applications and services. Direct communication satellite links exist with neighbouring countries as well as with the UK, USA and Germany. Tele-density in fixed-line services improved from 4.6 percent in 1995 to 6.6 percent in 2003. Namibia have two cellular operates MTC and Cell One. Cellular (mobile telephone) service customers increased from 60,000 in 2000 to a record 310,000 by June 2004, which is almost triple the subscriber base for fixed-line customers. In 2001, Namibia had 103 partners in about 50 countries and this increased to 250 partners in 120 countries by the end of September 2006. Mobile tele-density stands at 17.2 percent in June 2004. [Note: National Planning Commission (NPC). 2008. Third Development Plan (NDP3), 2007/2008-2011/12. Volume 1 . Government of the Republic of Namibia.]
MTCs 3G network is deployed in over 95 percent of the country making access to the internet available through their 3G devices and internet enabled phones, in partnership with Nokia Siemens and Motorola. This has been an enhancement of the existing GSM/GPRS/EDGE broadband technologies (MTC annual report 2008- annual news Vol. 013), with increasing international capacity through VSAT Internet gateways.
The number of post offices increased from 73 in 1995 to 114 in 2004, and automation of post office counters stood at 69 in 2004. Mail delivery standards improved to 100 percent of mail delivered countrywide within three days, and within one day in the capital city. A first-world revenue collection and billing system was developed, and will be rolled out to all automated post offices. A pilot business centre model is being implemented in Windhoek to provide the public with access to information technology (NPC, 2008).
Broadcasting
Namibia is a signatory to the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport which seeks to promote regional cooperation by removing barriers in the gathering and dissemination of information. Namibia also signed the 1991 UNESCO-sponsored Windhoek Declaration that promotes independent and pluralistic media in Africa. In addition, Namibia has embraced the African Broadcasting Charter. It also subscribes to the National Information and Communication Infrastructure initiative of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) which seeks to transform African nations into information societies by 2010 (NPC, 2008).
A number of laws relating to ICT have been enacted. The major legislation governing the communications sub-sector are (i) Namibian Communications Commission Act (Act No. 2 of 1992), (ii) Post and Telecommunications Act 1992 (Act No. 19 of 1992), (iii) Post and Telecommunications Companies Establishment Act (Act No. 17 of 1992), and (iv) Namibian Broadcasting Act (Act No. 9 of 1991). The following have been drafted: (i) the freedom of information Act; (ii) Namibia communications Bill; (iii) E-transaction Act; (iv) Data Privacy Protection Act; and (v) Information Bill
ICT Infrastructure in Higher Education
High education institutions are the major ICT hub for servers, computers, e-learning media system and Internet access through narrowband and broadband technologies offered by Telecom of Namibia, MTC, and other service providers, including Xnet. For example, the Polytechnic of Namibia has over 2,200 PCs and Laptops located in more than 35 labs and well as in the library and offices, 259 laptops to be used by students and staff and 120 servers.
