Talking about mobile phone providers in Namibia

**juikk** · 21st February 2011, 11:56 AM

True that, so far, only number portibility Lite is possible....thanks for the efforts Milton, Consumers should be king in any Economy/Market!

**miltonlouw** · 23rd February 2011, 10:19 AM

FYI - The case for Facebook Zero and similar applications | memeburn)

The case for Facebook Zero and similar applications
By Mani Pande
02.23.11

Early last year Facebook launched Facebook Zero, a stripped down version of its mobile website at no data cost primarily to attract new users in the Global South. Facebook Zero, unlike the standard version of Facebook mobile, does not serve multi-media content like images and videos (which can clog data pipes) — making it possible for carriers to make it available for free. Multi-media is stored at the back end, and if a user decides to access images then standard charges apply.

Facebook Zero was launched in about 45 countries in the Global South with the help of strategic partnerships with 50 carriers allowing users to access Facebook Zero at no data costs. Facebook has been working at extending partnerships with more carriers even in developed countries like UK and Austria.

Although smart phones and 3G networks are becoming ubiquitous across the globe, I believe that there is a strong business case for services like Facebook Zero because a sizeable segment of mobile users will not have access to faster networks (3G and beyond) or be able to afford smart phones (despite the prices dropping significantly).

Despite the rapid deployment of 3G networks across the world, which provide faster connectivity, 2G networks will still dominate in the global South in the coming years. For example, about 3 billion people in Asia Pacific will be still using 2G networks in 2014. In comparison, 3G networks will cover only over 1 billion people in Asia Pacific. We see a similar story in MENA and S&C America. There will be more people in these regions who will be still using 2G networks v/s 3G networks.

Another barrier to the adoption of 3G is the cost of 3G devices. 3G devices continue to be extremely expensive in the global South. With GDP/capita as a base we find that 3G devices are the most expensive in Africa. A 3G device in Africa is about 6.9 percent of GDP/capita. Unlike the US where carriers subsidize mobile phones, most users in the global South have to buy the mobile phone at full price themselves. This is the number one reason why iPhone, which was available at $500 did not take off in India despite India being one of the hottest mobile phone markets. Another interesting point to note here is that the cost of a 3G device as percent of GDP/capita is inversely correlated with 3G penetration.

What this is telling us is that in the coming 2-3 years, the mobile phone market will not uniform, but will continue to be fragmented into two. There will be two kinds of users: those who have 3G devices and primarily use 3G networks. The other users will be those who will still be using older, 2G devices that run on 2G networks. These numbers make a strong business case for investing in lightweight versions of mobile websites, and Facebook is leading by example.
In addition, the mobile web is forecast to overtake the desktop web in 2014 making it imperative for companies to have a strong mobile presence.

**juikk** · 23rd February 2011, 01:44 PM

Good point Milton, all the more reason for Business not to restrict their users too much on FB ;-)

**miltonlouw** · 24th February 2011, 02:48 PM

FYI - The case for Facebook Zero and similar applications | memeburn)

The case for Facebook Zero and similar applications
By Mani Pande
02.23.11

Early last year Facebook launched Facebook Zero, a stripped down version of its mobile website at no data cost primarily to attract new users in the Global South. Facebook Zero, unlike the standard version of Facebook mobile, does not serve multi-media content like images and videos (which can clog data pipes) — making it possible for carriers to make it available for free. Multi-media is stored at the back end, and if a user decides to access images then standard charges apply.

Facebook Zero was launched in about 45 countries in the Global South with the help of strategic partnerships with 50 carriers allowing users to access Facebook Zero at no data costs. Facebook has been working at extending partnerships with more carriers even in developed countries like UK and Austria.

Although smart phones and 3G networks are becoming ubiquitous across the globe, I believe that there is a strong business case for services like Facebook Zero because a sizeable segment of mobile users will not have access to faster networks (3G and beyond) or be able to afford smart phones (despite the prices dropping significantly).

Despite the rapid deployment of 3G networks across the world, which provide faster connectivity, 2G networks will still dominate in the global South in the coming years. For example, about 3 billion people in Asia Pacific will be still using 2G networks in 2014. In comparison, 3G networks will cover only over 1 billion people in Asia Pacific. We see a similar story in MENA and S&C America. There will be more people in these regions who will be still using 2G networks v/s 3G networks.

Another barrier to the adoption of 3G is the cost of 3G devices. 3G devices continue to be extremely expensive in the global South. With GDP/capita as a base we find that 3G devices are the most expensive in Africa. A 3G device in Africa is about 6.9 percent of GDP/capita. Unlike the US where carriers subsidize mobile phones, most users in the global South have to buy the mobile phone at full price themselves. This is the number one reason why iPhone, which was available at $500 did not take off in India despite India being one of the hottest mobile phone markets. Another interesting point to note here is that the cost of a 3G device as percent of GDP/capita is inversely correlated with 3G penetration.

What this is telling us is that in the coming 2-3 years, the mobile phone market will not uniform, but will continue to be fragmented into two. There will be two kinds of users: those who have 3G devices and primarily use 3G networks. The other users will be those who will still be using older, 2G devices that run on 2G networks. These numbers make a strong business case for investing in lightweight versions of mobile websites, and Facebook is leading by example.

In addition, the mobile web is forecast to overtake the desktop web in 2014 making it imperative for companies to have a strong mobile presence.

**miltonlouw** · 24th February 2011, 02:50 PM

OR just create a Live.com account. Can automatically link your facebook status. Be careful though and do not move your mails over unless you have specified a live email address.

I have a gmail account and accidentally said yes to something, they moved all my mai land deleted on gmail. Years of work filing gone.....

**miltonlouw** · 2nd March 2011, 02:49 PM

MTC drops case on cell call costs

By: WERNER MENGES

THE dominant player in Namibia’s cellphone communication industry, MTC, yesterday abandoned an attempt to get an urgent court interdict to stall a Namibian Communications Commission decision that would force it to lower the price of some of its services.

For the second time in five days, MTC conceded that an urgent application that it had lodged against the Namibian Communications Commission (NCC), Telecom Namibia and Powercom, which owns MTC’s main competitor, Leo, should be removed from the court roll in the High Court in Windhoek.

In the urgent application, which was first removed from the court roll on Friday last week, MTC was asking the court to issue an urgent interdict that would have prevented the NCC from implementing a decision that should result in cellphone users paying less for calls made to cellphones on other cellphone networks and to land line phones.

The NCC’s board decided on February 9 that Namibia’s cellphone network operators have to stop charging higher prices for calls that their subscribers make to other operators’ networks and to fixed line telephones than the tariffs they charge for calls made on their own networks only.

With the urgent component of its case against the NCC, Telecom Namibia and Powercom now abandoned, MTC is however continuing with the review application that it has filed with the High Court, the company’s legal counsel, Sakeus Akweenda, told Acting Judge Harald Geier yesterday.

In the review application MTC is asking the court to set aside and declare as unconstitutional and null and void the NCC board’s decision to implement a price cap on the tariffs that cellphone operators charge for calls made from their networks to other cellphone operators’ networks and to fixed-line phones.

The NCC directed that these price changes had to be implemented by March 1.

MTC spokesperson Tim Ekandjo said on enquiry yesterday that MTC will abide by the NCC’s decision in the meantime.

“The fact that we had differences of opinion with the NCC on their direction does not mean that we will not respect their decision, after all they are the regulatory authority of the telecommunications industry,” he remarked.

MTC is claiming that the NCC did not give it a proper hearing before the decision on implementing a price cap was taken.

In an affidavit filed with the court MTC Managing Director Miguel Geraldes accuses the NCC of acting “unfairly and unreasonably” towards MTC. He also claims the NCC took its decision arbitrarily and without first having conducted an independent and comprehensive study on cell phone services tariffs and fees.

MTC is further claiming that a study that has been done showed that its rates were price competitive in Namibia and when compared with prices in the Southern African Development Community as a whole.

According to the NCC, though, MTC has known for the last nine months that the NCC was considering the issues that resulted in the price cap decision. The company has since May last year also been given ample opportunities to make presentations to the NCC on these issues, the regulatory authority has responded.

MTC is also charging that the measures taken by the NCC are “anti-competitive, and have the effect of price fixing”.

In its response filed with the High Court, Telecom Namibia is throwing MTC’s allegation of anti-competitive behaviour back at the company.

Accusing MTC of itself being responsible for anti-competitive conduct, Telecom Namibia’s General Manager: Strategy, Theo Klein, is arguing that MTC cannot ask the court to grant it an interdict to protect the revenue it earns as a result of anti-competitive conduct.

MTC is claiming that the price cap would affect its earnings negatively, and could ultimately result in the company closing down.

Whether this gloomy scenario would ever come to pass is being disputed by Telecom Namibia and leo, though.

They note that according to MTC’s latest annual report, the company had a turnover of N$1,389 billion in the year to the end of September 2009. MTC ended that financial year with a very healthy after-tax profit of N$387 million.

the Namibian: MTC drops case on cell call costs

**miltonlouw** · 4th March 2011, 12:46 PM

MTC will soon abolish free calls

FRIDAY, 04 MARCH 2011 09:47

MTC customers should brace themselves for an abolition of free calls and free SMSes after the mobile telecommunications giant lost in its bid to stop the Namibia Communications Commission enforcing a directive that now sees mobile operators charge on-net calls the same as off-net calls.

In a statement issued this week, MTC said the tariff capping decision by the NCC may soon lead to the abolition of free calls and free SMSes, thus depriving the supposedly 1.5 million MTC customers the chance to communicate with their families and friends.

Tim Ekandjo, the chief human capital & corporate affairs officer at MTC said the NCC’s decision to regulate pricing will block innovation in terms of products and service that are the engine of competition.

“This will surely have a negative bearing on MTC’s marketing activity which has demonstrated so much capacity over the last three years in terms of customer benefits, like Aweh-Aweh,” Ekandjo said.

He said that charging off-net rates the same as on-net rates will impact on MTC’s capacity to generate cash to maintain investments plans.

“But worst is the expected abolition of free calls and SMSes which we believe will be the next step.”
Ekandjo defended his company’s failed urgent application to the High Court which sought to stop the NCC from forcing the mobile operators to charge the new on-net rates beginning Tuesday this week.

“The recent court case....is not intended to pick a fight with the regulator but it is normal that when there are disagreements on matters of principle that third parties are asked to arbitrate in the interest of a mutual solution for the industry.

“The main purpose of the urgency was to try to suspend the implementation of the decision set for 1 March while we understand, or even debate, the decision before implementation.

“The purpose was to ensure we understand the directive, and that it is clear before implementation, and that we properly be afforded an opportunity to debate the matter before implementation as it would make no sense to implement and then discuss such a major decision,” Ekandjo said.

**juikk** · 18th March 2011, 06:53 AM

CRAN invites Comments

In today’s Republikein (18/03/2011), page 36, a Public notice informs of comments posted on the below website regarding regulations and rule making in the Communications Industry. Comments were submitted by Multi-Choice, Telecom Namibia, MTC and Wireless Technologies Namibia.

CRAN - Downloads

Reply comments can be posted before 30 March 2011 to cran@cran.na

**miltonlouw** · 18th March 2011, 10:50 AM

Where can I get a copy of the comments submitted by these companies - and no they are not on the web as promised. Can someone call them and point out that it is not online?

I am in Germany not close to a phone - though online - great new world