Three newly constructed network towers in the Kavango West region will provide free Wi-Fi to neighbouring schools and health facilities for the next seven years, supporting e‑education and e‑health services.
This was announced by minister of information and communication technology (ICT) Emma Theofelus on Monday during a stakeholder engagement at Simanya in the Mpungu constituency. The meeting reviewed ICT challenges in the region and outlined current interventions by the ministry.
The towers, situated at Kandumbu village, Owiwi at Mpungu, and Naimanya in the Tondoro constituency, have been completed and are awaiting connection to the national power grid.
Theofelus called on the relevant authorities to expedite the electrification process to ensure that local communities can access online services without further delay.
The Kavango West region is prioritised under phase one of the Universal Service Fund project, with additional sites earmarked for phase two.
“Planned new locations include one in Musese constituency and two in Mpungu constituency, and regional leaders are being asked to identify other unconnected communities,” she said.
The minister also addressed cybersecurity, warning of increasing cyberthreats and highlighting government initiatives to bolster protection.
These include the establishment of the Namibia Cybersecurity Incident Response Team under the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia and progress on the National Cybersecurity Strategy.
She noted ongoing stakeholder engagement on the cybercrime bill to define offences and penalties for online crimes.
Further measures include updated national broadband targets to 25Mbps for downloads and 3Mbps for uploads.
Regulations for electronic signatures have also been finalised to secure and streamline digital transactions.
Meanwhile, the ministry is establishing rural ICT centres and a government information centre studio in the Kavango West region to enhance public access to information and services.
Theofelus appealed to regional officials, government communicators, and community leaders to actively use new infrastructure and communication channels to inform citizens about development efforts.
“Improved connectivity supports broader socio-economic goals across sectors such as agriculture, education, healthcare and disaster response,” the minister said.
Regional authorities welcomed the updates and called for swift implementation so communities can benefit from reliable internet access and enhanced public services.
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