The Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, said the Namibian government is committed to ensuring improved communication services in rural communities across the country.

Theofelus, who was in the Zambezi Region as part of the Heroes' Day commemorations, visited network towers erected in the Katima Rural and Kabbe South constituencies. These include the Ikumwe, Nakabolelwa, and Mutikitila sites, which were inaugurated last year.

She confirmed that the towers, constructed by Powercom, a subsidiary of Telecom Namibia, have been completed and handed over to the communities within a record nine months. TN Mobile is currently the first operator to provide services, and discussions are underway for MTC and NBC to also connect.

Theofelus clarified that the need to finalise rental agreements and administrative processes between operators was the reason for the delay in providing additional services. Once concluded, the towers will provide residents with broader network coverage as well as access to radio and television services.

The minister emphasised that the government’s infrastructure sharing policy aims to prevent the duplication of towers in communities and encourages operators to utilise existing infrastructure to extend services.

She expressed satisfaction with the progress, saying the completed towers demonstrate that groundbreakings lead to tangible service delivery that uplifts rural communities.