Kaapanda calls for innovative mobile

Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Hon. Joel Kaapanda said there are vast opportunities with mobile applications such as mobile health, mobile payments and mobile education in Namibia.
According to Kaapanda, mobile handsets are the most appropriate platform to use as Namibia has mobile voice coverage of 98% of the population.
Kaapanda made the remarks during the recent launch of the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN)’s Consumer Awareness and Protection Campaign and the Namibian Prototype Core Committee (PCC) at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair.
CRAN also handed its first annual report to the ministry. Permanent Secretary Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana asked Local Authorities to offer their commitment to ICT development, urging the  government and other stakeholders to fund research programmes and budding entrepreneurs adding that the Development Bank of Namibia and the SME Bank must offer venture capital, offer business support and mentoring.”The funding must particularly be aimed at mobile health and mobile education service applications, as have been demonstrated by Himeezembi Kahorongo and Lars Shinyemba,” Kaapanda said, refering to their innovative SMS service that keeps pregnant women informed about their pregnancies.
Presenting the annual report, Lazarus Jacobs, the CRAN Board of Directors’ Chairman said the Board is responsible for the content and integrity of the financial statements and related financial information. “As a Board, we have ensured that the financial statements and the results of CRAN’s operations and cash flows fairly present the state of affairs of CRAN as at the end of the financial year.”