Telecommunication
Infrastructure | Informatics | ICT Training and Development | Broadcasting/Media
Telecommunication
Infrastructure
Telecommunication regulator:
The Namibia Communications Commission was established as a quasi-independent regulatory
body in 1992. The Commission reports to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and
is responsible for licensing, frequency management and other regulatory functions. The Namibian
Telecommunications Policy and Regulatory Framework was approved by Cabinet in
1999.
Telecommunication operator:
The Department of Posts and Telecommunications was dissolved in 1992, resulting in the
creation of Telecom Namibia. Telecom Namibia was granted a fully monopoly over all basic
telecommunications services, and it is owned by Posts and Telecom Holdings, which in turn
is owned by the state.
Teledensity:
- Total: 6.38
(1998)
- Largest cities:
31.73 (1999)
- Rest of the country:
3.93 (1999)
Digital main lines: 100.0%
(1999)
Waiting list for a telephone
line:
- Total: 5,400 (1999)
- Average waiting time:
0.7 year (1999)
- Total demand (k):
113.6 (1999)
- Satisfied demand (%):
95.2 (1999)
Telephone Tariffs (1999):
| PSTN
Connection charge - residential |
US$
42.00 |
| PSTN
Connection charge - business |
US$
42.00 |
| PSTN monthly
subscription - residential |
US$ 7.7 |
| PSTN monthly
subscription - business |
US$ 8.6 |
| Three minutes
local call |
US$
0.05 |
Source:
World Telecommunication Indicators 2000/2001
Public telephones: 4,180
(1999)
Public telephone per 1,000
inhabitants: 2.47 (1999)
Mobile cellular subscribers:
30,000 (1999)
Mobile Telecommunications
Ltd. is the cellular provider in Namibia. The company is a joint venture between
Post and Telecom Holdings (51%), Telia of Sweden (26%) and Swedfund International (23%).
Telia has taken the responsibility for the management operations.
Cellular subscribers as a % of
total telephone subscribers: 21.7 (1999)
Mobile cellular tariffs
(1999):
| Connection
charge |
US$
41.00 |
| Monthly
subscription |
US$
16.4 |
| Local call per
minute - peak |
US$
0.71 |
| Local call per
minute - off-peak |
US$
0.44 |
Source:
World Telecommunication Indicators 2000/2001
Telecommunications revenue (M
US$): 90.8 (1999)
Telecommunications investment
(M US$): 20.9 (1999)
Telecommunications investment as
a % of revenue: 23.1 (1999)
Telecom equipment exports (M
US$): na
Telecom equipment imports (M
US$): na
Telecentres: na
Facsimile: na
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Informatics
The Ministry of Information
and Broadcasting convened a national workshop entitled "National information
and Communication Infrastructure for Namibia" in Windhoek, 11-13 May 1998, to decide
on a course of action for improving the country's national information and communication
infrastructure, and to further promote the use of ICT for socio-economic development. The
workshop was expected to result in a set of recommendations in line with the framework of
the African Information Society Initiative.
The Data Systems and
Services Unit (DSS) in the Office of the Prime Minister has the
main responsibility of co-ordinating networking activity in the public service sector. DSS
and the Namibian Internet Development Foundation (NAMIDEF) have
collaborated in supporting government and research/academic networking in the country. NAMIDEF, a non-profit
association established in mid-1994, was the first Internet Service Provider in Namibia.
It handed over its Internet activities to UUNET
Internet Africa Namibia (UIAN) (Pty) Ltd. in 1996, but NAMIDEF still
managing the router on behalf of DSS.
The Computer Centre at the University of Namibia (UNAM)
has instituted a campus-wide network capable of transferring video, voice, images and data
between computers. As part of its strategy, the Centre is planning to set up an adequate
IT infrastructure which will further enhance the image of University as a national
knowledge provider. The plan includes the installation of Intranet and the provision of
in-house training on IT for the University community. The University also has an active
Department of Information and Communications Studies.
A number of private Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
are operating in the country.
Computer
per 100 inhabitants: 2.95 (1999)
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ICT
Training and Development
Telecom
Namibia has a well-established training infrastructure and provides theoretical
and practical training on all products and services for its personnel. A wide range
of training courses are available to its employees in various fields of telecommunications
and in related aspects of management.
The Department of
Information and Communication Studies is one of
the recently established departments in the University of Namibia. It is dedicated to
training information workers involved in all aspects of information handling, from
journalists and public relations officials to librarians and records managers, as well as
those interested in working in publishing and book-selling firms.
The University of Namibia was
formed in 1992, and the Department of Information and Communications Studies had its first
students in 1996. The Department is one often departments in the Faculty of Humanities and
Social Sciences. The following specializations are offered as part of the degree
programmes:
- Information, Library Science and
Records Management - part of B.A. programme (double major)
- Information Studies - part of B.A.
degree programme (minor)
- Media Studies - part of B.A.
programme (double major)
- School of Resource Centre
Studies for Teacher-Librarians - part of B.Ed. programme, or for those students intending
to pursue the Post Graduate Diploma in Education in the future.
A Masters degree earned through
research work is also available.
Programmes which will be
offered soon:
- Certificate in Library Science - in
collaboration with Centre for External Studies
- Post-Graduate Diploma - in
Communication for Development
The contact person at the
Department is Justin Chisenga.
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Broadcasting/Media
The National
Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) was created by an Act of Parliament of 1991 as an
autonomous entity with independent editorial and programming policies. This Act and the
Namibian Communication Commission Act created a liberal environment for broadcasting in
the country. As the public broadcaster, the NBC's radio programmes reach out about 97% of
the population through high power FM transmitters which provide excellent reception of
radio signals. The broadcasting is carried out in nine languages: Afrikaans, Damara/Nama,
German, Lozi, Oshiwambo, Otjiherero, Rukavango, Setwsana and English.
NBC remains the only
television station in Namibia, and it reaches 48% of the population. However, in keeping
with the globalisation of information, satellite and cable television channels are
available on purchase from relevant vendors.
As a result of the
liberalisation of the airwaves through the Nambian Communication Commission Act, a host of
independent radio stations have been created. These range from commercial and religious to
community and rural radio stations.
Radios per
100 inhabitants: 14 (1995)
Television
receivers per 100 inhabitants: 3.8 (1999)
Cable TV
subscribers: na
Home
satellite dishes/antennas: 29,700 (1999)
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