The push-to-talk (PTT) facility trials between the Namibian Police Force and GSM operator MTC Namibia have been successful, says Albertus Aochamub, GM of corporate services at MTC Namibia.
The company launched the PTT trial with the Namibian police in December, in a bid to help boost police efficiency.
PTT functions like a two-way radio over the cellular network, using a mobile phone that is enabled with relevant software, explains MTC in a statement.
"The trial lasted throughout the month of December and we have had a good response," says Aochamub. "The Namibian police have given positive feedback during the trial phase."
MTC and the police will now engage in a detailed review of all aspects of their experience and consider pricing and related marketing matters before the solution is implemented later this year, he adds.
If the police and MTC feel trials are an ultimate success, the police will start using the technology on a full-time basis, Aochamub notes.
"This will make Namibia the second country in Africa to use the technology, after Morocco."
Aochamub says the encryption of PTT ensures there is no chance of the calls being intercepted, unlike with normal two-way radios. Additionally, the pressure on voice channels is minimal, since PTT uses the GPRS/data channels for transmission.
Users can also reduce their costs of communication, which will no doubt streamline public institutions' operations, says Aochamub.
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