Namibia`s premiere information and communication technology (ICT) event "“ Telecom Namibia ICT Summit 2009, is scheduled to take place in Windhoek on July 8-9, 2009.

The two-day summit, which forms part of concerted efforts by Telecom Namibia to enhance the momentum for the development of ICT in the country, will be held at the Safari Hotel and Conference Centre under the theme "ICT: Visualising the Future "“ Confronting the Crisis."

"The aim of the Telecom Namibia ICT Summit 2009 is to boost confidence and build motivation for future business oriented development, taking into account and overcoming local adversities and the difficult economic climate," said Coenraad Coetzee, General Manager for ICT and Corporate Business Solutions at Telecom Namibia.

This year`s ICT Summit, being one of the most important events in ICT area in Namibia, will be officially opened by Information and Communication Technology Minister Honourable Joel Kaapanda. Board Chairman of Telecom Namibia Joseph Iita is also expected to address the Summit.

Coetzee said the summit had evoked an enthusiastic interest both nationally and internationally.

About 600 people have so far been registered and some are still registering to take part in the ICT Summit this year. These include government officials, business leaders and ICT experts from Namibia as well as high-profile delegates from South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Angola, Nigeria, DRC Congo and Germany.

"It is a well known fact that all of the successful economies of the world have are using ICT as a main driver for their development and the ICT Summit will be showcasing and promoting ICT as part of our daily lives." Coetzee said.

He said there is a need to move forward through the adoption of ICT initiatives and take advantage of the numerous benefits they do offer, as this would not only lead to better communications but also to a better economy, a better education and ultimately a better future for Namibia.

Speakers who will feature at the event include Stanley Shanapinda of Telecom Namibia who will speak about "Changing the ICT regulatory landscape "“ the Communications Bill 2009," Michele Categnaro of Cisco "Weathering the storm through ICT,"George Debbo of Ericsson on "Fixed mobile convergence "“ the next evolutionary step," Malcolm Anderson of Cornastone IT Services on "How to create a virtualisation strategy for your organisation".

There will be presentations on Visualisation by Dimension Data, on Customer Management by Business Connexion Namibia and on Loyalty Manager by SAAB Grintek.

Buhle Dlamini of Marie Grey & Associates who has been sponsored by Telecom Namibia to deliver a talk on "Owning the future.

"The discussions at the Summit will contribute to shaping a clear vision and roadmap for ICT development within Namibia. We are hopeful that the ideas and insights brought up by the Summit will result in concrete project," Coetzee concluded.

This Telecom Namibia ICT Summit 2009 is the third one to be held following the very successful summits in 2007 and last year. The 2-day summit brings together key ICT practitioners and decision makers and users from across Namibia and the region and increase their awareness and exposure to the latest emerging trends and opportunities in ICT.

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.

Telecom Namibia continues its supports towards the Economist Business Women Club by donating N$30,000 at the launch of the 10th Northern Conference on Wednesday 24 June 2009 at Omba Gallery in Windhoek.

The aim of the conference is to create an opportunity for women to share their expertise and skills, make new contacts, support one another and to create worthwhile business relationships.

According to the organizers, the conference is tailored for all women who want to increase their professionalism, job satisfaction, add value to their organisations as well as to encourage women entrepreneurship.

Businesswomen of the Year 1999 and patron of Northern Economist Business conference Sara Elago encouraged women all women to attend the conference. "The Businesswomen Club will enrich women while adding value to the activities which are taking place in their communities," Elago said.

"You are employing a major strategy of tapping into existing network, the same pool of skills and experience as your sisters in Windhoek, meet other key players and improve yourself and your business," she said.

Telecom Namibia`s Communication Practitioner Surihe Gaomas said the conference is a platform and opportunity for women entrepreneurs to share and transfer skills and expertise.

"Telecom Namibia has for long been a keen main sponsor of women empowerment through the Economist Businesswoman Club. We therefore hope that through this sponsorship, local businesswomen reap the benefits during the upcoming conference in the north," said Gaomas.

The northern conference is expected to take place on the 13 August at Oshakati.

The government of Namibia announced the lifting of the restriction on Telecom Namibia's Switch, a CDMA-based mobility service, on 12 May.

Cabinet approved the lifting of the restriction on the Switch product to the geographic areas after the Office of the Attorney-General recommended to the Office of the Prime Minister to lift the restriction.

Switch was only allowed to be used in towns and a small radius surrounding towns after the government decided that Switch, the provided by fixed line incumbent Telecom Namibia, can continue operating but under a new set of restrictions.

"On 24th March 2009 Telecom Namibia obtained a Board Resolution of the NPTH holding company. The Board resolved that it is satisfied that there is nothing illegal and untoward with Telecom Namibia's Switch (CDMA Technology) product and has no objection that the geographic restriction be lifted and the product be re-launched," reads a Cabinet resolution sent to the media on 12 May 2009.

The launch of Switch in November 2006 was fiercely opposed by the country's GSM mobile operators, which complained that it was providing a mobile service under a fixed telephony licence.

Under current legislation, Telecom Namibia does not need a licence from the regulator, the NCC, to offer specific services but needs authority to use frequency bands over which the NCC has control. Telecom obtained spectrum in the 450MHz and 800MHz bands in February 2005.

Plans are now in full swing to re-launch the Switch product countrywide.