Telecom upgrades Speedlink broadband packages for free
The country’s Information Communications Technology (ICT) services provider, Telecom Namibia has announced that it is upgrading the speeds of its Speedlink broadband products free of charge.
The company will also introduceg a minimum download speed of 1 Megabit per second (Mbps) as entry-level package nationwide, totally doing away with the 512 kbps package.
The migration to higher speeds will take place in a phased approach commencing from 27 November.
According to Oiva Angula, Head: Corporate Communications and Public Relations, Telecom Namibia is planning to upgrade the Speedlink broadband packages for both residential and business customers as follows: 512 kbps will be upgraded to 1 Mbps, 1 Mbps will be upgraded to 2 Mbps, 2 Mbps will be upgraded to 4 Mbps, 3 Mbps will be upgraded to 4 Mbps, 4 Mbps will be upgraded to 6 Mbps, 6 Mbps will be upgraded to 8 Mbps and 8 192 Mbps will be upgraded to 10 Mbps
Angula said, customers with a 10 Mbps Speedlink broadband package will not be upgraded but will receive a price reduction since they are already at the threshold of the package ranges.
“The phasing out of the 512 kbps entry-level package is a freebee to customers in the year of Telecom Namibia’s Silver Jubilee celebration and an early festive season present. It also reaffirms the company’s commitment to Namibia by taking the initiative to connect the country to the world at high speeds, thus meeting the broadband minimum speed set by national broadband strategy and Harambee Prosperity Plan, as well as SADC Ministerial broadband decision,” he added.
Telecom Namibia upgraded customers’ Speedlink access in 2012 and again in 2014 for free to coincide with the landing of the West African Cable System (WACS) in order to facilitate access to faster internet connectivity as well as to enable customers to access rich media content such as video, music and seamless live streaming.
“In today’s technology-driven world, access to high-speed internet is essential to building strong communities, growing the economy and supporting our everyday lives,” said Calvin Muniswaswa, Chief Commercial Officer at Telecom Namibia.
Muniswaswa said this new initiative is a step further in ensuring that Namibia progresses at faster speeds and creates opportunities for Namibians to make economic gains using ICT services. “This is just the beginning of our broadband upgrade initiative, there will be more to come in the future,” he added.
Due to the technology limitations, customers on the wireless WiMAX FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) technology will not benefit from speed upgrades beyond 2 Mbps, but will enjoy lower prices. Telecom Namibia is in the process of deploying Time Division – Long Term Evolution (TD-LTE) networks to overcome the current WiMAX FDD limitations.
Over the last few years, the expansion of Telecom Namibia’s broadband footprint and upgrade of existing infrastructure have all come together to change the very dynamics of ICT services in the country, empowering people to come on the information communication highway and enabling ordinary people and businesses to reach out to the world.
