Namibia Expands CDMA Converage

Telecom Namibia says that it has expanded its wireless CDMA infrastructure to nine more towns and settlements in Namibia. The services which are offered under the SWITCH brand have been launch today at Rehoboth, Mariental, Opuwo, Grootfontein, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Okakarara, Oshivelo and Onesi.

Despite the temporary restriction of the SWITCH Service (its legality is questioned by the other telcos), customers in these newly connected towns and settlements will be able to make use of SWITCH services in their geographic areas without any limitation. In other words, SWITCH customers are able to make and receive calls, send and receive SMS's and access the Internet with their SWITCH phones in their selected geographic areas. These calls can be made to local, national and international destinations, meaning that there is no restriction in terms of the destination to which phone calls can be made and SMS's can be sent and received.

The introduction of wireless technology is a way by Telecom Namibia to accelerate the development of radio-based and satellite technology to thwart the chronic theft of copper wire. Several kilometres of phone line disappeared in rural regions of the country, prompting the national telecom company to introduce more wireless and satellite technology along with non-copper wiring wherever possible.

A further roll-out of the CDMA network to replace obsolete technologies is on the cards for 2007 and beyond."

Posted to the site on 18th July 2007