Africa-Press – Namibia. Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, has called on the leadership of the Kavango East region to provide land for network operators to support the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure.
Speaking on Monday during a meeting with regional leaders focused on ICT development, Theofelus emphasised that a lack of accessible land is hindering efforts to roll out the network.
“As we work to expand network connectivity, operators often struggle to secure land to install network towers,” she said.
She said operators submit applications to regional councils or local authorities, but many receive no response for six to nine months. When they cannot access land within a given financial year, allocated funds are redirected to regions where land is made available more quickly.
The issue, she added, is just as challenging in communal areas.
“In some cases, land is allocated in someone’s maize field or on occupied plots, which creates complications,” she noted. While rental agreements are sometimes made with landowners, Theofelus pointed out that demands for excessively high rental fees often prevent progress.
“This doesn’t just impact the landowner; it affects the entire community that would benefit from improved connectivity,” she said.
Theofelus urged regional leaders to assist network operators in accessing land and encouraged residents on privately held land to grant access for maintaining telecommunications infrastructure.
Network maintenance officer at MTC, Fillemon Shishiveni, highlighted additional challenges the company is facing, particularly along the coast, where operational costs are significantly higher.
“Our equipment along the coast suffers from severe corrosion, requiring frequent replacements. We are currently replacing several towers, which is a very costly process,” he explained.
Shishiveni also noted that MTC is working to phase out outdated 2G and 3G phones to make way for newer technologies, but this transition remains a challenge. -Nampa
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