Salomo N. Ndeshimona

I, as many Namibian individuals and organisations, depend heavily on telecommunication connection, which has for years been made possible by Telecom. 

Many schools, companies, students and individuals have, since the inception of Telecom wifi network connection, acquired Fritz boxes and other mobile routers to connect to the
internet. 

As the technology advances, so is our reliance on telecom services. It is, however, a pity that for the past few months, the going has not been easy anymore. Despite that, in the fifth generation, it is our expectation that Telecom Namibia will advance this technology and assure our loyalty that we have paid them for ages.

As a private client who works in a public organization, I have the opportunity to compare. I realised that those telecom technologies are fading away, and reliability is compromised. I have been a loyal customer for more than seven solid years with internet connection at home. 

However, since last October, I have not enjoyed this service, although I have always paid for the service, which I got partially. At work, the service is unreliable that those in the know have concluded that the Telecom routers are either old and need replacement, as they keep hanging up. I have experienced this in Ondangwa, Okankolo and Omuthiya thus far. It is a pity, as if I do not pay for my service, they often cut off. But as for me, I keep paying with slow, unreliable and an unviable service. 

Actually, I am paying to be frustrated. This is negatively affecting my work, studying and life. Although in denial, internet connection is slowly becoming a basic human need.

I, therefore, would like to call upon Telecom to consider the following: Replace all hanging network routers across the country. Come on, you are a colossal company to claim un-affordability, and you have a wave of customers who are loyal to sustain your capital abilities. I also wish to propose that Telecom considers operating a call centre to attend to our emergencies over weekends. 

Sometimes it is the only service we have, and without it, we are in a dilemma without connecting to the outside world, plus with no alternatives. The timeframe they take to attend to call-outs is way too long. 

A report launched on Monday can be attended by Wednesday or Friday, citing a lack of personnel, although we have many unemployed youths in our streets. They really need to increase the service they offer to customers, as some customers are large organisations whose failure due to connections can be fatal, such as hospitals, schools, police stations and so on. Plus, it is costly to fail due to services, and in schools it is partly to blame for poor performances. Telecommunication failures are tinged with financial constrains, and our money goes to waste in this way.

Salomo Ndeyamunye yaNdeshimona

Educator from Oshikoto region.