Telecom Namibia Launches National CDMA Data Roaming

Telecom Namibia has announced that its CDMA 1x data service (or 1xRTT) now has the ability to data roam nationwide. According to Paulus Iipinge, Telecom NamibiaÃ's Senior Manager: Internet Services, anyone in possession of a CDMA2000 1x data modem or phone from Telecom Namibia can now connect to the Internet in any town in Namibia, if there is CDMA SWITCH coverage.

But the customerÃ's ability to make and receive voice calls and SMS is still restricted in line with a Cabinet decision of 27 February 2007.

To date, the 1x data service was limited for technical reasons to a geographical area, but this was overcome when engineers successfully set the service up for roaming at the beginning this month.

"It`s a milestone for us. The event is also good news for our 1x Internet customers," Iipinge said. "Our data customers are now free of Internet roaming restrictions," he said.

"This is a much-needed feature going forward because it has the potential to increase Internet usage and penetration in the country," he added.

Telecom NamibiaÃ's CDMA 1x offers data transfer speed of up to 153 kbps.

According to Obed Grant Heitah, Telecom NamibiaÃ's Senior Manager: Network Planning and Implementation, the company is investing heavily in Phase 3 of its CDMA network roll-out with a view to expanding coverage, enhancing quality and leveraging fully CDMA`s technological superiority.

Heitah said that about N$36 million (US$4.6 million) has been allocated for the CDMA project in the current financial year which ends 30 September this year.

"The focus is to continually improve the quality and expand the coverage of its CDMA networks," he said. "We believe these efforts will further enhance the awareness of, and interest in, our CDMA services."

Posted to the site on 16th April 2008