STAFF WRITER
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) says about 58% of Namibians have access to the internet despite the country facing challenges including rapid technological advancements, such as the rise of 5G and internet- enabled devices and demand for continuous updates to regulatory frameworks.
CRAN Chief Executive Officer Emilia Nghikembua told Namibia Business Review that the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector in Namibia has exhibited steady growth, driven by increased mobile penetration, expanding broadband infrastructure, and government initiatives promoting digital transformation.
“ Compared to neighbouring countries such as Botswana and South Africa, Namibia’s growth remains moderate but promising, with notable advancements in e-government services and ICT accessibility.
Challenges persist, including limited rural connectivity, digital literacy
gaps, adoption and the usage of the internet,” she said.
According to Nghikembua ongoing investments and regulatory reforms by CRAN are fostering a more competitive and inclusive ICT environment.
She said Namibia’s ICT sector shows significant potential for future growth, positioning the country as a regional player in digital development. However she does not expect the growth of the industry to come without any challenges.
“ The Authority faces several challenges in fulfilling its mandate. Rapid technological advancements, such as the rise of 5G and internet- enabled devices, demand continuous updates to regulatory frameworks, which can be resource-intensive. Ensuring affordable access amidst market competition remains a concern, alongside combating cyber threats and ensuring data security,” Nghikembua said.
She said limited infrastructure in remote areas hampers equitable service delivery.
“Additionally, balancing industry growth with consumer protection requires ongoing oversight. Resource constraints and capacity building are also challenges in effectively monitoring and enforcing regulations. Addressing these issues is vital to promote a robust, inclusive, and secure telecommunications environment in Namibia,” she said.
The CRAN CEO said Namibia has also engaged several methods to deal with the dominance of government owned players in the ICT industry.
“Several recommendations were made in the ICT Sector – Regulatory Environment Assessment 2023 report which include enabling new market entry. This involves removing barriers to entry and allowing new players to enter the market. This can be
achieved through reducing licensing requirements, simplifying
regulatory frameworks, and promoting foreign investment,” she said.
According to Nghikembua possibilities of privatising state-owned enterprises has also been put as an option to dealing with state monopoly in the industry.
She said this involves selling off state-owned enterprises that operate in the ICT sector to private investors. This is in line with the objects of the Communications Act and could promote competition by creating new market players.
“ Infrastructure sharing, This refers to the practice of multiple
telecom service providers sharing the same physical network
infrastructure, such as cellular towers, fiber optic cables, and other network components,” she said.
She said the government has also considered Spectrum reform as another option to open the market to other players.
“ This involves reforming the way the radio frequency spectrum is allocated. In the context of Namibia, this can be done by ensuring that there is spectrum set aside for new players or by excluding dominant operators from some spectrum frequencies or limiting the amount of spectrum that they can be assigned to specific licensees.
“A study conducted by the World Bank also found that the privatisation of some telecommunication licensees would be the best way forward,” she said.
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