MTC concludes consultations with governors to determine priority areas of network roll-out in rural areas

Leading mobile operator, MTC, says it is finalising plans to extend and strengthen its network signal in the most rural parts of Namibia, after concluding a series of consultations with the governors of the respective regions.

Since last year, MTC has been consulting with the various gove Social media course for ITSM professionals rnors to determine their specific communication and network needs and to identify the specific constituencies that needed attention with regard to signal strengthening or roll-out of additional network coverage.

By and large, MTC's network extends to all the parts of the country, but the company felt it necessary to continue its infrastructure deployment efforts in critical areas. To accomplish that task, MTC felt it necessary to consult the political leadership of the regions to get a first-hand account of the actual needs, hence the meetings with the governors.

MTC's Chief Human Capital and Corporate Affairs Officer, Tim Ekandjo, described the deliberations with the governors as fruitful and insightful. He also thanked the governors for their commitment and co-operation, saying the meetings were necessary to prioritise and determine the locations that had the most pressing need for expanded network.

According to Ekandjo, MTC is now busy drawing up an implementation schedule that will guide the implementation of the roll-out as per identified areas and timelines.

He, however, pleaded with the various affected communities to be patient as the exercise will take some time to reach all the regions at the same time. Ekandjo said the priority list will be drawn in such a fashion that those areas with lesser coverage than the other will receive first preference in terms of the roll-out campaign.

The roll-out of the network to the rural parts of the country is part of MTC's continued strategy to make its network accessible to all the inhabitants of the country. Last year, MTC upgraded its network along the main roads, availing coverage on the national road network as well those arteries joining the network from various small towns.

As a strategic imperative, MTC has placed huge emphasis on creating increased and improved Internet access, and as a result, a total of 46 sites around the country saw the modernisation of the 3G network with increased capacity, while also expanding 2G capacity at 123 sites countrywide last year. MTC envisages spending N$800 million over the next two years on technical infrastructure aimed at beefing up its network in the country. This expenditure is also in anticipation of the roll-out of the WACS cable, which landed at Swakopmund early this year. MTC, the government of the Republic of Namibia, and other role players have all contributed financially to the landing of the WACS cable in Namibia.

All these efforts, Ekandjo noted, are to make information and communication technology accessible to each and every citizen, irrespective of where they find themselves. “Ultimately, our dream as MTC is to see someone in Okongo, Bethanie, Omatjette, Fransfontein or any other rural setting enjoying super-fast Internet access, while also being able to conduct business and other activities with the use of information and communication technology,” said Ekandjo.

“Naturally, we are excited about the prospects that our network deployment holds for us as a company and for Namibia. All that we are doing now is therefore to prepare our population for those opportunities,” he concluded.