Namibia to Plunge into 3G

September 19, 2006 - source: BWCS

The largest mobile phone network operator in Namibia, Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) has announced plans to launch a 3G network. The company, which is 34% owned by Portugal Telecom, said that German engineering and mobile network equipment group Siemens will build the network.

According to the German vendor, it will supply and install a brand new 3G HSDPA network. The installation of such a state-of-the-art system will , Siemens said, not only enable MTC to better fend off the coming threat from a soon to be launched competing mobile operator, but will be one of the first such networks in sub-Saharan Africa.

The new rival to MTC, Powercom which is backed by local utility player NamPower and Norwegian group Telecom Management Partners, has said that it too will build a 3G network, though it has yet to say when this may happen.

Local investment analysts have yet to be convinced that installing such high-powered networks in relatively poor countries makes economic sense. 3G networks have yet to prove themselves profitable in most advanced economies, never mind in some of the world's poorest countries. On the other hand, supporters of 3G in Africa argue that the relatively poor state of the fixed line networks there make mobile broadband services much more attractive to the population.

Vodacom in South Africa has already launched 3G services as has Mauritius. Meanwhile next generation mobile networks are being constructed in Zimbabwe and Tanzania.