INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY The desired outcome for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Namibia’s Fifth National Development Plan (NDP5) is to have ‘universal access to information, affordable communication and technology infrastructure and services by 2022.
• promote Namibia as a preferred film destination • enhance an enabling environment for a high-performance culture and effective service. Namibia’s two national telecommunications operators, Telecom Namibia and MTC, continue to be entirely owned by the government through Namibia Post and Telecommunications Holdings Ltd (NPTH). Cellular services are provided by two companies, MTC and TN Mobile, the mobile telecommunications division of Telecom Namibia.
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MTN Business Namibia, an internet service provider, expanded its 4G coverage to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay at the end of 2019. The company, which was granted the third mobile service licence in 2017, indicated that it still intends launching a mobile service. he Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT), the ICT policy maker, is mandated to lay the foundation for the accelerated use and development of ICT and coordinate information management within the government.
The ministry’s Strategic Pan for 2017 to 2022 has four objectives: • accelerate ICT development, access and use for an inclusive ICTsmart Namibia • enhance unhindered access to information for an informed nation
Telecom Namibia Ltd, the national fixed-line operator, is wholly owned by the government through its holding company, NPTH. The company had nearly 170 000 subscribers at the end of 2018 – a decrease of nearly 12% compared to 2017. Several smaller communication service providers operate in the communications sector, providing internet and a range of other communication services. Most of these companies resell Telecom Namibia’s services, but they have been gaining market share – albeit at a slow pace.
ICT KEY DATA 2018/19
Namibia
Africa
World
Fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
6.3
0.8
12.1
Mobile-cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
112.7
80.1
108.0
3G coverage (% of population)
53.0
53.0
93.0
Households with a computer (%)
21.2
10.7
49.7
Households with internet access (%)
34.6
17.8
57.0
Individuals using the Internet (%)
51.0
28.2
53.6
Statistics compiled from various ITU data
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