WINDHOEK – The Deputy Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Houlin Zhao, has praised Namibia for its achievements in information and communication technology (ICT).
Zhao, who arrived in the country on a familiarisation visit on Wednesday and is expected to depart today, yesterday had an audience with the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Joël Kaapanda, and his deputy Stanley Simataa at the ministry’s head office.
“Statistics give us a very good indication that for example mobile projections are almost hundred percent when compared to your neighbours. And compared to the majority of sub-Saharan member states you are far more organised,” said Zhao.
“I heard that somehow Namibia’s life style is similar to South Africa, but I was also reliably informed that Namibia is better than South Africa, better organised, better developed and I also see in the presentation of ICT that the country is more advanced,” he added.
Zhao said taking into account Namibia’s small population of about 2 million spread over a vast territory, connecting its people would be a challenge but the country has done “a very good job in this regard”.
“Not only have you installed a 2G or 3G but you have already installed a 4G,” he said.
“I am very pleased that you already have Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) of more than 60 percent and this is a major achievement,” said the ITU deputy SG.
He further encouraged Namibia to be more active in sharing its experiences with the ITU so that other member countries can learn from them.
He hailed the government’s political will which he said is a “facilitator and a clear testimony” that Namibia will meet its Vision 2030 target to be industrialised.
Minister Kaapanda reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting ICT.
He highlighted the installation of communication towers across the country as one of the major achievements among others in improving telecommunication.
The ITU coordinates the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promotes international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits and works to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world.
By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa