Written by Kuzeeko Tjitemisa | From New Era

The Deputy Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Houlin Zhao, has praised Namibia for its achievements in information and communication technology (ICT).

Zhao, who arrived in the country on a familiarization visit on Wednesday and is expected to depart today, yesterday had an audience with the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Joël Kaapanda, and his deputy Stanley Simataa at the ministry’s head office.

“Statistics give us a very good indication that for example mobile projections are almost hundred percent when compared to your neighbours. And compared to the majority of sub-Saharan member states you are far more organised,” said Zhao.

“I heard that somehow Namibia’s life style is similar to South Africa, but I was also reliably informed that Namibia is better than South Africa, better organised, better developed and I also see in the presentation of ICT that the country is more advanced,” he added.

Zhao said taking into account Namibia’s small population of about 2 million spread over a vast territory, connecting its people would be a challenge but the country has done “a very good job in this regard”.

“Not only have you installed a 2G or 3G but you have already installed a 4G,” he said.

“I am very pleased that you already have Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) of more than 60 percent and this is a major achievement,” said the ITU deputy SG.

Read more at New Era