Opposition to communication gateway
The DTA has joined the Namibia Media Trust in condemning an alleged intended move by information and communication technology minister Tjekero Tweya to select a foreign-owned company as the facilitator through which communications from Namibia to other countries will pass.
The DTA said that a single communications gateway would compromise private communications, as they would be monitored. This to the DTA presented a violation of privacy.
The party's secretary-general, Manuel Ngaringombe, questioned why a partially foreign-owned firm was being preferred, as was reported two weeks ago.
“Having all international communications passing through a singular international gateway that is controlled by a (partially) foreign-owned company potentially opens up private citizens using this network to have their private communications monitored. This too could potentially represent a violation of the important rights to privacy, freedom of thought and freedom of expression,” said Ngaringombe of the proposed deal.
The Namibia Media Trust also opposed the planned move by Tweya through its executive chairperson, Gwen Lister.
“NMT calls on government to abandon this single telecoms gateway proposal in its entirety, as it will entail higher costs for consumers, and enable undue surveillance. It seems to hold no tangible benefits for the country,” NMT said.
The organisation stressed that a single gateway would serve the primary purpose of enabling spying and monitoring of the communications of citizens, and in the wrong hands, could lead to potentially draconian moves such as internet shutdowns.
According to the advocacy group, the proposed single gateway is unconstitutional and in conflict with the Communications Act.
“The consumer will have to foot the bill through higher prices. Making more money off international calls than is currently the case implies higher prices for incoming and outgoing calls,” the organisation added.
NMT also questioned how the French-linked company was being pushed by Tweya, saying this was proof that the deal “is opaque and even questionable as far as a lack of tendering processes is concerned”.
Tweya, according to a report by The Namibian, was accused of pushing for a French technology company to have an exclusive mandate to control all telecommunications coming in and going out of the country.
Responding to a query by the daily, Tweya denied that he was favouring a single company and instead said that he was calling for inclusivity in the telecommunications space.
“Why would I push for this company? I don't think I will go that low,” Tweya said.
OGONE TLHAGE
The DTA said that a single communications gateway would compromise private communications, as they would be monitored. This to the DTA presented a violation of privacy.
The party's secretary-general, Manuel Ngaringombe, questioned why a partially foreign-owned firm was being preferred, as was reported two weeks ago.
“Having all international communications passing through a singular international gateway that is controlled by a (partially) foreign-owned company potentially opens up private citizens using this network to have their private communications monitored. This too could potentially represent a violation of the important rights to privacy, freedom of thought and freedom of expression,” said Ngaringombe of the proposed deal.
The Namibia Media Trust also opposed the planned move by Tweya through its executive chairperson, Gwen Lister.
“NMT calls on government to abandon this single telecoms gateway proposal in its entirety, as it will entail higher costs for consumers, and enable undue surveillance. It seems to hold no tangible benefits for the country,” NMT said.
The organisation stressed that a single gateway would serve the primary purpose of enabling spying and monitoring of the communications of citizens, and in the wrong hands, could lead to potentially draconian moves such as internet shutdowns.
According to the advocacy group, the proposed single gateway is unconstitutional and in conflict with the Communications Act.
“The consumer will have to foot the bill through higher prices. Making more money off international calls than is currently the case implies higher prices for incoming and outgoing calls,” the organisation added.
NMT also questioned how the French-linked company was being pushed by Tweya, saying this was proof that the deal “is opaque and even questionable as far as a lack of tendering processes is concerned”.
Tweya, according to a report by The Namibian, was accused of pushing for a French technology company to have an exclusive mandate to control all telecommunications coming in and going out of the country.
Responding to a query by the daily, Tweya denied that he was favouring a single company and instead said that he was calling for inclusivity in the telecommunications space.
“Why would I push for this company? I don't think I will go that low,” Tweya said.
OGONE TLHAGE
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