Noreen Sitali
Free wireless internet connectivity will respond to digital exclusion as low-income communities are often left behind by ICT infrastructure and development.
This was expressed by the majority of attendees in the //Kharas, Erongo and Kunene regions during the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information, Technology and Innovation’s public hearings on how free wi-fi could bridge the gap between privileged and underprivileged citizens.
Stakeholders and regional educators stressed that technological advancements aren’t equally available to all students, citing that education today is subject to a digital divide that makes equal access to the internet impossible.
Students without internet access miss out on a substantial educational opportunity, while internet bullying still remains an issue to be tackled, especially at educational and social level.
The Free Wi-Fi Motion has, however, received mixed views, notably from some service providers such as Telecom Namibia.
Many have also questioned the infrastructure in place to consider free wi-fi.
“Free wi-fi is a good thing, but can cause a lot of damage.
So, there is a need for user education and proper planning,” said Eicka Thys, a teacher at the Tamariskia Primary School in Swakopmund.
“The world is moving into a digital era. We need to prepare ourselves for the fourth industrial revolution, otherwise we will be left behind,” observed Erongo governor Neville Andre during the committee’s courtesy call on the governor.
He said the Erongo region will benefit from free wi-fi, particularly in the education and tourism sectors.
“The travel and tourism sector is particularly well-placed to reap the rewards because the Internet can enable further automation, and a greater customer experience, especially to visitors. Let us not get left behind,” said Andre.
The majority of stakeholders welcomed the initiative, but emphasised the need for appropriate planning before implementing free wi-fi.
“The good message in all this is good connectivity and inclusivity to all as we move into digital inclusivity and access to information,” reasoned Modestus Amutse, chairperson of the ICT Standing Committee.
“There’s no doubt that free wi-fi comes with a fair amount of positives. But at the same time, it also exhibits a fair amount of negatives that can actually cause a significant number of problems in general,’’ said member of the standing committee, Celeste Becker.
Situated on the edge of the Kalahari Desert in the //Kharas region, the small village of Koës in the Keetmanshoop Rural constituency embraced ICT through wi-fi connection at a local school.
Kaonde Kabuku, a teacher at a school in Koës, said advances in technology and availabilities are enabling dramatic changes in education content, delivery and accessibility, citing that free wi-fi will enable e-learning, which he said will help learners to research, create and communicate new ideas.
“Learners get the chance to uplift their skills and gain knowledge, apart from education. A prime importance of e-learning is that it helps learners and teachers develop advanced skills,” said Kabuku.
“We have wi-fi at our school, but connectivity has been a challenge as the whole school connects to it. The internet has been useful technology to our community, which helps us not only in our daily lives, but also in our professional lives for educational purposes.
As educators, we have been using the internet to gather information and to do research or add to the knowledge of various subjects,” noted Abel Tjituaiza, principal at a Combined School in Koës.
The Koës community shared that internet does have its bad side, but they are embracing it to gain from this life-changing technology.
“With social media, so many people, particularly young people, can’t stay a day or two without posting a photo or hanging out with friends online,” said a community member.
The majority, however, said the facilitation of the use of internet would be vital, especially with young people, where cyber-bullying remains an issue.
The consultations come after a motion was tabled in the National Assembly by Amutse on 16 February 2022. Stakeholders in the ICT industry were invited on 12 September to Parliament to conduct public hearings, which resulted in the establishment of a task force.
* Noreen Sitali is an Information Officer at the National Assembly.