By Petronella Sibeene WINDHOEK Namibia’s’ leading internet-based converged communications provider UUNET today changes its name to Verizon Business Namibia. Verizon Business Namibia is a subsidiary of Verizon Business South Africa, a premier global communications partner for enterprise business customers. General Manager at Verizon Business Namibia Manfred Engling says Verizon is one of the largest IP networking and communications companies in the United States of America. The change in name comes after Verizon decided to take its footprints to African countries. Already, the company exists in countries such as Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, and Botswana. Considering that Verizon is the leading provider of advanced communications solutions to business and the Government, under the new name the local business is likely to expand as opportunities at the global level abound. He added that most businesses today are trying to make sense of a fragmented industry where multiple suppliers “suffocate” their customers with solutions. With the growing customer demand for communication partners, Namibia would now stand a high chance of finding a communications partner that can offer end-to-end solutions for global connectivity, security and reliability. The Government is still faced with a challenge of playing a role in bringing the latest technology to the local people. Verizon Business, according to Engling, would continue playing its role in providing the local businesses with the much-needed technology that enables them to flourish in their en-deavours. Last year there were rumours that the business was running bankrupt and would close down. Engling revealed to New era that the business is financially strong and would continue operating at its 11 points across the country. “This is a chance for Namibia to get exposed to technology at the international level,” he concluded. Among other services, today’s businesses are benefiting from IP applications such as virtual private networks VoIP and hosting services pioneered by Verizon Business.