Information and communication technology represents an enormous opportunity to introduce significant and lasting positive change across the developing world.
This was the view of the Minister of Information, Communication, and Technology, Dr. Peya Mushelenga, when he addressed staff at their annual start of the year meeting.
Dr. Mushelenga stated that the rapid penetration of mobile access has resulted in considerable improvements in the lives of the poor in both rural and urban settings.
Dr. Mushelenga said that there are positive impacts of mobile access on the lives of economically disadvantaged individuals, and he predicts that this positive trend will persist and even improve further as mobile access becomes more widely available and affordable.
He confidently mentioned that people should look forward to seeing the effects of these changes this year.
"The breath-taking pace of penetration and uptake of mobile telephony and broadband internet supports many new possibilities, products, and services, providing breakthrough ideas in agriculture, health, education, access to finance, and helping local and international trade."
Namibia's broadcasting infrastructure has also been improved considerably in collaboration with public enterprises and private partners, allowing for broader coverage and higher service quality.
"The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation has improved its digital broadcasting capabilities, ensuring that quality programming reaches every corner of the country. Our commitment to digital inclusion resulted in the successful implementation of several initiatives to increase internet access nationwide, particularly in underserved rural areas."
Dr. Mushelenga stressed that his ministry also paid attention to cybersecurity architecture by developing solid systems and protocols to protect its digital assets and personal data.
"In 2022, Namibia recorded over 2.7 million cyberattacks. Hackers steal people's data and use it for their own benefit. They further damage the reputation of institutions that they attack. The establishment of the National Cyber Security Incident Response Team was a critical step in our proactive response to cyber threats."
The government is exploring the possibility of using satellite services to positively impact broadcasting, data, and voice services, and in the meantime, it will continue to roll out terrestrial networks to areas that are most out of reach.