The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) strives for the operationalisation of the Universal Service Fund (USF). The USF in Namibia is a funding mechanism designed to expand communication services to underserved areas and populations.
The mechanism is financed primarily through contributions from mobile network operators and telecommunications companies. The fund ensures contributions benefit citizens and create new business opportunities for telecommunications companies and content providers.
The Cran 2024 annual report states that the increase in population coverage to 88.4%, an 8.4% rise exceeding the target by 3.4%, signifies significant progress due to enhanced infrastructure and effective policy implementation.
“This improved connectivity leads to greater access to communication services, driving socio-economic benefits, such as better education, healthcare and economic growth, and marking substantial progress towards achieving universal access and digital inclusion goals,” reads the report, which was recently tabled in the National Assembly.
One of the focuses for the year is to formulate alternative means to operationalise the USF and formulate a strategy to ensure the expansion of broadband coverage to schools in unserved and underserved areas.
It further states that a funding proposal to national, regional and international institutions was finalised, securing a commitment of N$115 million over three years from the Namibian government.
“This funding will be used to construct towers in unserved areas in alignment with the provisions of the universal service regulations,” it added.
The year under review saw an increase in broadband coverage of 31.5% of schools, reaching 81.5% of schools, and an increase of 38.9%, reaching 88.9% of clinics.
This enhanced connectivity facilitates better e-learning and digital resources in schools, supports efficient health data management in clinics, and contributes to overall socio-economic growth.
In the report, Cran CEO Emilia Nghikembua noted that as they enter the final two years of the Integrated Strategic Business Plan, the focus will remain on advancing Namibia’s position at the forefront of the digital revolution.
“We will embrace emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and the internet of things, and foster a regulatory environment that supports investment and innovation. Furthermore, we will focus our efforts on increasing network coverage to underserved areas, especially in five of the 14 regions, where coverage remains below 80%,” she said.
Mobile Telecommunications Limited and Telecom Namibia Limited have extensive network coverage across all regions of Namibia.
They are national mobile broadband operators, with MTC having a larger footprint.
The population coverage for 4G in Namibia is steadily increasing, reaching 88.4% at the end of Q4, up from 85% in the previous period.
In five out of the 14 regions, the 4G population coverage falls below 80% as depicted in the table below.
Notably, the Kunene region has less than 50% 4G population coverage, though it has nonetheless grown from the previous 41% to the current 49%.