Namibia: Mobile Sector Still Under-Developed
3 October 2012
(AllAfrica.com/New Era) - Namibia is not far behind in catching up with mobile communication technologies since the first ever-mobile communication device was launched in 1996.
Even though there is still room for improvement, and recent assessments of Namibia's rollout of ICT technologies were not favourable, Namibia's first mobile technology company, MTC, says the country still has come a long way in the last 16 years.
MTC spokesperson Tim Ekandjo points at banking and education where mobile technology has become a daily instrument for many Namibians. Many people now use mobile banking to pay bills, buy airtime, buy goods and make payments to individuals.
"This has made life convenient. Mobile banking has not fully been embraced in Namibia although people are slowly growing an appetite for such services," says Ekandjo.
Education and entertainment are the other sectors where mobile technology has been embraced. In education, the Ministry of Education has also begun using SMS services to encourage learners in grades 10 and 12 to prepare for the upcoming examinations.
The 2012 Global Competitive Index (GCI), by the World Economic Forum (WEF), ranks Namibia at 92nd position, which is 18 positions down in the last two years. In 2010, the country was at 74 and last year it fell to number 83.
Category: ICT