Telecom’s Cyber Logic

TELECOM Namibia’s announcement that the telephone directory will be in cyberspace “soon” is misleading.

Fact is that the telephone directory has been available on the Web since May 2005 at www.creative-logic.org. Telecom’s involvement in this first edition is limited to its efforts of “closing it down”, in Mr.Tjahere’s own words, by way of a High Court appeal based on the claim that the directory data is the property of Telecom Namibia.For Telecom’s online directory the parastatal is using profits that could have been a dividend to Government as its shareholder, and a tiny relief to the taxpayer.We have offered our co-operation to Telecom.Not once, since we have proven that we have the system well under control, were we approached by Telecom to enquire about the financial implications – it seems that it is easier to spend “millions of dollars” in a new, and by now superfluous, software development and another princely sum in legal fees.Writing cheques footed by the taxpayer’s signature is still so much easier.Nevertheless, we look forward to the competition.Arthur Goetz WindhoekTelecom’s involvement in this first edition is limited to its efforts of “closing it down”, in Mr.Tjahere’s own words, by way of a High Court appeal based on the claim that the directory data is the property of Telecom Namibia.For Telecom’s online directory the parastatal is using profits that could have been a dividend to Government as its shareholder, and a tiny relief to the taxpayer.We have offered our co-operation to Telecom.Not once, since we have proven that we have the system well under control, were we approached by Telecom to enquire about the financial implications – it seems that it is easier to spend “millions of dollars” in a new, and by now superfluous, software development and another princely sum in legal fees.Writing cheques footed by the taxpayer’s signature is still so much easier.Nevertheless, we look forward to the competition.Arthur Goetz Windhoek