Telecom Namibia's fibre optic network was recently vandalised at two locations in the Grootfontein Constituency of the Otjozondjupa region, disabling fixed and mobile communications services to thousands of customers in Okamatapati and surrounding farms.

The incident took place between Okatjoruu (Otjituuo) and Ongongoro on Tuesday, 24 November 2009, at around 18h35.

Vandals chopped the fibre optic cable with a sharp object some 45km from Okatjoruu towards Ongongoro, damaging 11 of the 24 fibers that run in that cable.

The same cable was again vandalised some 58km from Okatjoruu towards Ongongoro. The vandals also cut down and carried away a telephone pole and a 20 metre long piece of the fibre cable.

Telecom Namibia technicians went in to begin working on the restoration that includes the replacement of a 3km long fibre optic cable in order to restore services. We ask all our affected customers to remain patient while restoration work continues.

It is not the first time that vandals have sliced Telecom Namibia's fibre optic cable in that area, which forms part of the Omaheke backbone ring network between Gobabis via Epukiro to Grootfontein which was completed last year. This new backbone routes allows for new stations at Otjinene, Okondjatu, Okamatapati and Okatjoruu to implement CDMA and WiMAX wireless access systems in these areas for automated and modern services, especially internet services to these rural communities.

Anyone who tampers with, destroys or disrupts Telecom Namibia's network or its components is in violation of state laws and Telecom Namibia will assist with any prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. We again wish to remind the public that Telecom Namibia would award anyone for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for incidents of vandalism to its network in the Grootfontein Constituency or anywhere else in the country.

We urge the residents of that area and all other constituencies across the country to be vigilant and report such criminal acts and to apprehend the culprits should they be known in order for the Law to takes its course.

2 March 2011

The Namibian Communications Commission`s issued a ruling for all licensees and providers of public mobile cellular services to implement a price cap for off-net call prices and call prices to fixed-lines to the level of their on-net prices with effect from the 1st March 2011. It further instructed that off-net prices and prices for calls to fixed-lines may no longer exceed those of on-net calls for each product or service.

Telecom Namibia has welcomed the intervention of the regulator as it ensures customer protection, fair competition among players and long term viability of the industry. High mobile cellular off-net charges have prevented customers from calling across networks, hence restraining competition.

However, the biggest winner in this new development is the customer who will enjoy the freedom to make calls, using any mobile cellular network in the country to make a call to another network, without fearing being charged more for calling outside the network of his/her service provider. It should be stressed that the price cap on off-net mobile cellular calls also applies to calls made by mobile phone users to fixed-lines.

While the ruling of the Namibian Communications Commission (NCC) is not applicable to fixed line originating calls, it has naturally affected all SWITCH voice plans, including text messaging services. In view of this, Telecom Namibia has taken steps to implement the NCC resolution as from the 1^st March 2011, namely:

• All SWITCH postpaid and prepaid plans have been adjusted accordingly to fully comply with the NCC ruling.

• The special rate campaigns currently applicable to both SWITCH calls and short messaging services (SMSs) have been discontinued to allow for a seamless implementation of the NCC ruling.

The price cap on mobile off-net services is clearly much needed as there are some horrendous examples of ludicrous charges being slapped on users for making mobile cellular off-net calls, for the sake of unfair monopoly profits. The cap means this abuse of power will stop.

We are confident that the NCC ruling clearly lives up to the expectations of customers for affordable mobile cellular voice services.

13 September 2010

Namibia`s premiere information and communication technology (ICT) event "“ the 4th Telecom Namibia ICT Summit 2010, is scheduled to take place in Windhoek on 7-8 October 2010, under the theme "The contribution of ICT to sustainable economic growth and knowledge-based societies."

The two-day summit, now on its fourth year, is annually hosted by Telecom Namibia. Organised to gather local and foreign industry practitioners and key decision makers with select invited delegates from the academe, business sector, government and even NGOs, the event aims to increase awareness and exposure to the latest emerging trends and opportunities offered by ICTs.

Information and Communication Technology Minister Honourable Joel Kaapanda is billed to officially open this year`s summit, while Telecom Namibia Board Chairman Mr Joseph Iita is also expected to address the opening session.

The primary objective of the summit is to provide a venue where all ICT stakeholders can convene and learn new insights from experts and established practitioners in the ICT industry. In addition, the 4th Telecom Namibia ICT Summit hopes to unite all those involved in the industry to map out and define how to use ICTs effectively to attain sustainable economic growth, especially as countries are now emerging from the global financial crises. This summit will also serve as a unique platform for showcasing Namibia`s ICT capabilities as well as its potential in drawing prospective investors to set-up more ICT-related businesses.

"ICTs are the backbone of modern societies," says Coenraad Coetzee, general manager for ICT and Corporate Business Solutions at Telecom Namibia. "Innovation and investment in the telecommunications sector are key enablers for Namibia's economic transformation to a stronger and more productive, knowledge-based economy," Coetzee said.

"Strategic use of ICTs is helping to create social and economic change in health, education, culture, and also increases civic engagement in many countries of the world. As more people gain access to ICTs, the challenge is turning this capacity into community capital in the form of better educated citizens, more prosperous businesses, higher quality of life and better access to services," he said.

Many ICT companies will be showcasing their products and services during the summit and over 800 delegates are expected to attend the event.

The conference programme has an impressive line-up of local and international experts, who will deliver presentations and participate in panel discussions and workshops. The discussions at the ICT Summit will focus on how to empower country development through ICTs and build knowledge based economy.

The Summit takes place at the Safari Hotel and Conference Centre in Windhoek.

Visit the ICT Summit website www.ictsummit.telecom.na to learn more about the sponsors, the presentations, the programme and the workshops which will take place during the two days.