New study lauds Namibia’s ICT infrastructure

A new study has lauded Namibia’s ICT infrastructure as one of the best in the region, however, urged the country to re-look the regulatory environment to attract more investors.

The study entitled, ICT Infrastructure Landscape in Namibia was done by ICT consultants, Palladium Strategy.

“Namibia has a good ICT infrastructure base in general, which is reasonably good compared to other countries in the region and a significant amount of money was spent on this infrastructure,” said ICT experts, Paul and Adriaan Aucamp from Palladium Strategy Consultants.

However, the experts urged Namibia‘s regulatory authority to be robust if it wants to receive better rating as an investment centre

“Implementing a new licensing regime – that is the major policy framework that needs to be addressed,” said Aucamp, adding that a good legal framework does not complement the current policy as the current legislation in place dates back 20 years.

According to New Era, Namibia needs to accelerate its pace of ICT usage and development to individuals. This means the provision of access to information and communication facilities for all communities in Namibia and establishment of an access point in every community or village.

On the costing side, said Aucamp, ICT technological services require a huge capital injection – but Namibia can only address those shortcomings within a regulatory framework – or a body set up specifically to look at modalities meant to lower cost and be beneficial to the end users particularly bearing in mind the low-income groups in the country.

To this end, “The new Communications Bill is a solid piece of legislation which will hopefully address all these things,” he commented.