Digitalization in Namibia

As of 1998, a report states that only 0.7% of the population had access to the Internet in Namibia.{{Cite book |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-981-10-7697-8 |title=Digitisation of Culture: Namibian and International Perspectives |date=2018 |publisher=Springer Singapore |isbn=978-981-10-7696-1 |editor-last=Jat |editor-first=Dharm Singh |location=Singapore |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-981-10-7697-8 |s2cid=13683227 |editor-last2=Sieck |editor-first2=Jürgen |editor-last3=Muyingi |editor-first3=Hippolyte N'Sung-Nza |editor-last4=Winschiers-Theophilus |editor-first4=Heike |editor-last5=Peters |editor-first5=Anicia |editor-last6=Nggada |editor-first6=Shawulu}} A governmental conference held in Windhoek in 2009 concluded limited internet access, lack of technological infrastructure, low digital literacy, and regulatory challenges as key barriers towards economic transformation which hence was seen primarily through digitalization.{{Cite book |last=Bruijn |first=Mirjam de |title=Digitalization and the field of African studies |date=2019 |publisher=Basler Afrika Bibliographien |others=Universität Basel |isbn=978-3-905758-98-6 |series=Carl Schlettwein lecture |location=Basel, Switzerland}} The first notable step towards digitalization in Namibia was the liberalization of the telecommunications sector in 2006, leading to the emergence of multiple ISPs and mobile network operators.{{Cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Dharm |title=Digitisation of Culture: Namibian and International Perspectives |last2=Sieck |first2=Jürgen |last3=Muyingi |first3=Hippolyte N'Sung-Nza |last4=Winschiers-Theophilus |first4=Heike |last5=Peters |first5=Anicia |last6=Nggada |first6=Shawulu |date=2018 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-981-10-7696-1 |location=Heidelberg}}

Namibia launched 4G and 5G spectrum auctions in early 2023.{{Cite web |last=Barton |first=James |date=2023-02-22 |title=Namibia launches 4G and 5G spectrum auctions |url=https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-regulation/14576-namibia-launches-4g-and-5g-spectrum-auctions.html |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=Developing Telecoms |language=en-gb}}

In 2021 it was reported, 1.31 million out of 2.56 million of Namibian population were connected to the Internet.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-12 |title=Digital in Namibia: All the Statistics You Need in 2021 |url=https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2021-namibia |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=DataReportal – Global Digital Insights |language=en-GB}} Since then, Namibian underwent internet connectivity and mobile phones usage expansion, primarily by the government and major telecom companies, such as Telecom Namibia{{Cite web |last=Observer |date=2023-06-26 |title=Telecom Namibia signs contract to fast-track digital transformation – WINDHOEK OBSERVER |url=https://www.observer24.com.na/telecom-namibia-signs-contract-to-fast-track-digital-transformation/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |language=en-US}} and Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC).{{Cite web |title=CENORED, MTC seal smart metering agreement - Business Financial Website |url=https://thebrief.com.na/index.php/economy/item/99-cenored-mtc-seal-smart-metering-agreement |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=thebrief.com.na |language=en-gb}}

The Namibian government has been proactive in driving digital transformation in the country. Its National ICT Policy, introduced in 2016, aimed to harness information and communication technologies to foster economic growth and social development.{{Cite book |last=Chitimira |first=Howard |title=Financial inclusion and digital transformation regulatory practices in selected SADC countries. South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe |publisher=Springer |year=2023}} Furthermore, in 2021, the government unveiled the Digital Namibia Strategy, which outlined a comprehensive plan to enhance digital literacy, cybersecurity, e-governance, and data-driven decision-making, among other areas.{{Cite book |last1=Mare |first1=Admire |title=Teaching and learning with digital technologies in higher education institutions in Africa. Case studies from a pandemic context. |last2=Woyo |first2=Erisher |last3=Amadhila |first3=Elina M. |publisher=Routledge |year=2023}}{{Citation |last=Mbangula |first=Daniel Kwalipo |title=Exploring the Integration of ICT in Public Sector Management in Namibia |date=2024-07-01 |url=https://services.igi-global.com/resolvedoi/resolve.aspx?doi=10.4018/978-1-6684-7366-5.ch039 |series=Advances in Information Quality and Management |pages=1–13 |editor-last=Khosrow-Pour, D.B.A. |editor-first=Mehdi |access-date=2023-07-31 |publisher=IGI Global |doi=10.4018/978-1-6684-7366-5.ch039 |isbn=978-1-6684-7366-5|doi-access=free }}

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Category:Communications in Namibia

Namibia