Radio still tops the information highway charts
Phillipus Josef RunduRadio remains Namibia’s most popular source of information, even as government pushes for wider digital connectivity and television access. Speaking in Rundu earlier this week at a regional stakeholder meeting, information and communication technology minister Emma Theofelus said radio reaches 98% of the population, making it the most effective tool for keeping Namibians informed. “Radio is still the number one source of information for the majority of the population in this country, and we value it,” the minister said.
“Our goal is to expand that to 100% coverage so that no citizen who owns a radio set is left behind when it comes to access to information,” she added.
The minister stressed that while mobile networks and television broadcasting are critical to development, radio’s affordability and accessibility make it a priority for government. At the same time, she noted that expanding television coverage through the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation’s (NBC) direct-to-home satellite model remains a key focus. TV reach stands at around 84–86% of the population, with plans to push those numbers higher.
Push for broader access
On telecommunications, Theofelus said universal connectivity remains one of the biggest challenges. “We are here to consult, to listen,and to plan together. Connectivity is not a luxury – it is essential for every Namibian to participate in our country’s development,” she said. She highlighted the cost of building a single network tower, which can range between N$2 million and N$3 million depending on location and infrastructure requirements.
To address this, government last year operationalised the Universal Service Fund to support expansion into rural and low-income areas where operators would otherwise find it commercially unviable to invest.
“We seeded the fund with N$35 million last year, allocated N$40 million for this year, and expect a total of N$145 million to be injected over three years. This will allow us to build towers in areas where the market cannot carry the cost, ensuring no community is left behind,” Theofelus said. The minister urged regional and traditional authorities to make land available more quickly to operators, warning that delays often push investment to other regions.
Into the connectivity fold
Kavango East governor Hamunyera Hambyuka said the minister’s engagement demonstrated government’s commitment to ensuring regions like Kavango East are not sidelined in the digital transformation journey.
He noted that while new towers had been installed in villages such as Shinyungwe and Mashare, large parts of the region still struggle with weak mobile coverage. “Connectivity is essential for education, health, banking and government services, and we must continue investing to reach the last mile,” Hambyuka said.
Theofelus announced that two new network towers are expected to be completed in Mukwe and Ncuncuni constituencies by January 2026, benefiting several schools and clinics.
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“Our goal is to expand that to 100% coverage so that no citizen who owns a radio set is left behind when it comes to access to information,” she added.
The minister stressed that while mobile networks and television broadcasting are critical to development, radio’s affordability and accessibility make it a priority for government. At the same time, she noted that expanding television coverage through the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation’s (NBC) direct-to-home satellite model remains a key focus. TV reach stands at around 84–86% of the population, with plans to push those numbers higher.
Push for broader access
On telecommunications, Theofelus said universal connectivity remains one of the biggest challenges. “We are here to consult, to listen,and to plan together. Connectivity is not a luxury – it is essential for every Namibian to participate in our country’s development,” she said. She highlighted the cost of building a single network tower, which can range between N$2 million and N$3 million depending on location and infrastructure requirements.
To address this, government last year operationalised the Universal Service Fund to support expansion into rural and low-income areas where operators would otherwise find it commercially unviable to invest.
“We seeded the fund with N$35 million last year, allocated N$40 million for this year, and expect a total of N$145 million to be injected over three years. This will allow us to build towers in areas where the market cannot carry the cost, ensuring no community is left behind,” Theofelus said. The minister urged regional and traditional authorities to make land available more quickly to operators, warning that delays often push investment to other regions.
Into the connectivity fold
Kavango East governor Hamunyera Hambyuka said the minister’s engagement demonstrated government’s commitment to ensuring regions like Kavango East are not sidelined in the digital transformation journey.
He noted that while new towers had been installed in villages such as Shinyungwe and Mashare, large parts of the region still struggle with weak mobile coverage. “Connectivity is essential for education, health, banking and government services, and we must continue investing to reach the last mile,” Hambyuka said.
Theofelus announced that two new network towers are expected to be completed in Mukwe and Ncuncuni constituencies by January 2026, benefiting several schools and clinics.
[email protected]
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