MTC reaches out to remote areas

THE country’s first mobile phone operator, Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC), has invested N$17 million in satellite technology that will expand its network to remote places.

In an interview yesterday, MTC spokesperson Albertus Aochamub said a contract had been awarded to Advanced Telecoms for the implementation of a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) backhaul to support the rapid growth of its mobile subscriber base. Advanced Telecoms will be supported by SatCom, a local satellite implementation company.Aochamub said this new development was in anticipation of future demand and would help deliver better service to the more than half a million MTC subscribers.The project will see terminals deployed countrywide and will enable MTC to expand its coverage into the rural areas, and into places like the desert where it is difficult to set up base stations.The first phase of the project was completed in November last year to cater for some 15 new base stations while many others should be ready by end February.Meanwhile, on a related note, the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit (Nepru) will this week launch a policy paper on the regulatory challenges the country’s telecommunications sector is facing with last year’s introduction of Telecom Namibia’s Switch service.According to Nepru the introduction of the fixed-wireless Switch service in December changed the sector.”Due to the market constellation, CellOne’s (second mobile phone operator) entry into the Namibian market would not have moved prices downwards by much, the unexpected competition through Telecom Namibia on the other hand will get prices moving.”Lowering ICT access costs is crucial for Namibia to catch up with its neighbours and benefit from the economic potential that ICTs offer for Namibia’s development,” said Nepru.Dr Christoph Stork of Nepru said the policy brief aimed at providing facts for the discussions taking place between policy makers and various stakeholders around the regulatory environment, and legality issues regarding Switch.CellOne is yet to launch its product after failing on promises of entering into the market by the end of last year.Advanced Telecoms will be supported by SatCom, a local satellite implementation company.Aochamub said this new development was in anticipation of future demand and would help deliver better service to the more than half a million MTC subscribers.The project will see terminals deployed countrywide and will enable MTC to expand its coverage into the rural areas, and into places like the desert where it is difficult to set up base stations. The first phase of the project was completed in November last year to cater for some 15 new base stations while many others should be ready by end February.Meanwhile, on a related note, the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit (Nepru) will this week launch a policy paper on the regulatory challenges the country’s telecommunications sector is facing with last year’s introduction of Telecom Namibia’s Switch service. According to Nepru the introduction of the fixed-wireless Switch service in December changed the sector.”Due to the market constellation, CellOne’s (second mobile phone operator) entry into the Namibian market would not have moved prices downwards by much, the unexpected competition through Telecom Namibia on the other hand will get prices moving.”Lowering ICT access costs is crucial for Namibia to catch up with its neighbours and benefit from the economic potential that ICTs offer for Namibia’s development,” said Nepru.Dr Christoph Stork of Nepru said the policy brief aimed at providing facts for the discussions taking place between policy makers and various stakeholders around the regulatory environment, and legality issues regarding Switch.CellOne is yet to launch its product after failing on promises of entering into the market by the end of last year.