100% 3G roll-out starts with informal settlement near Okahandja
Digital mobile connections to informal settlements in rural towns became a reality earlier this week when Mobile Telecommunications Ltd (MTC) commissioned its Kaibasen tower in Oshetu 1, the crowded settlement on the outskirts of Nau Aib, a suburb in Okahandja.
The Kaibasen site is the first base station in MTC’s billion dollar undertaking to provide Namibia with 100% digital cover with 3G connectivity. The network expansion project is called 081Every1.
Punting the secondary benefits, MTC said “the growing availability and popularity of mobile data connectivity is creating a growing platform for the introduction of new and innovative digital services, calling more on operators to increase their footprints and network reach even further in order to tap into this growth.”
The Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Hon Tjekero Tweya, said “Today we witness the commitment MTC made in which we declared publically that we are set to transform the network landscape and therefore we took our first steps to bridging and closing the gap on digital divide”
By 2019, it is MTC’s intention to have built another 524 sites. This improvement will provide 3G networks to all rural areas which previously only had 2G bandwidth.
MTC said the Kaibasen site is a 25-metre lattice base transmitter station and is 3G enabled. It will serve the residents of Oshetu 1, 2 and 3 informal settlements and some sections of the Nau Aib residential area.
An international communications body, the GSM Association estimates that by 2022 there will be over one billion Africans enjoying the convenience of 3G and 4G LTE connectivity.
Pictured at Tuesday’s ceremony, left to right, His Worship Johannes Hindjou, Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Hon Tjekero Tweya, MTC acting Chief Executive, Mr Thinus Smit and MTC Chairman of the Board, Mr Elvis Nashilongo.
