Connecting rural communities
Mobile phone operator MTC says more than 60 transmission towers will be constructed as soon as environmental studies have been completed while others have also been upgraded already.
The Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) last week visited MTC to enquire about its project to expand network coverage countrywide.
The project aims to supply communication services (2G or 3G towers and cellphone services) to 100% of the country with these services within the next two years.
Under the initiative, MTC will set up 524 new transmission towers all over the country.
The acting CEO of MTC, Thinus Smit, said many of these towers will be on farms. Therefore MTC teams have already visited numerous farmers to brief them about the agreements which they will enter into with MTC. The NAU offered their assistance to MTC with the finalising of rental agreements with members. The first 63 towers will be built once the environmental impact studies have been completed. In the meantime 63 existing towers were upgraded from 2G to 3G. Service interruptions however still occur due to the overlapping with frequencies of two-way radios.
Smit also told the NAU that due to the location of some farm houses that are, for instance, located behind a mountain or in a valley, these farmers might not get any reception.
In these instances farmers will have to put up multiplier antennas or towers. Smit assured the NAU that they are busy solving these problems.
Internet coverage has become essential for farming operations as cheques as legal tender for payments, are to be phased out in a few weeks.
STAFF REPORTER
The Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) last week visited MTC to enquire about its project to expand network coverage countrywide.
The project aims to supply communication services (2G or 3G towers and cellphone services) to 100% of the country with these services within the next two years.
Under the initiative, MTC will set up 524 new transmission towers all over the country.
The acting CEO of MTC, Thinus Smit, said many of these towers will be on farms. Therefore MTC teams have already visited numerous farmers to brief them about the agreements which they will enter into with MTC. The NAU offered their assistance to MTC with the finalising of rental agreements with members. The first 63 towers will be built once the environmental impact studies have been completed. In the meantime 63 existing towers were upgraded from 2G to 3G. Service interruptions however still occur due to the overlapping with frequencies of two-way radios.
Smit also told the NAU that due to the location of some farm houses that are, for instance, located behind a mountain or in a valley, these farmers might not get any reception.
In these instances farmers will have to put up multiplier antennas or towers. Smit assured the NAU that they are busy solving these problems.
Internet coverage has become essential for farming operations as cheques as legal tender for payments, are to be phased out in a few weeks.
STAFF REPORTER
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article