Thread: Talking about mobile phone providers in Namibia

Maybe one should remember that Telekom has a finger in the MTC pie and the Switch pie. They don't care where the money comes from - as long as it comes in.

SWitch not like MTC/CellOne? "A rose by any other name...." is probably the most apt reply. Or call it semantics, if you want.

MTC has lately been playing the numbers game. Because their clients are more - you save phoning from MTC to MTC. However, we need to introduce "number portability". In other words, keep your number change your provider!

Then we will have competition...

Most countries around the world have opened their telecommunications markets to competition, which has accelerated the deployment of telecommunications services more quickly and cost-effectively than past monopolies have achieved.

Some of these liberalisation efforts are being driven by regulations that call for number portability. For example, the European Union (EU) Universal Service and Users' Rights Directive (2002/22/EC), Article 30 - effective since July 2003 - imposes on all EU member states the following obligations:
Member states shall ensure that all subscribers of publicly available telephone services, including mobile services, who so request can retain their number(s) independently of the undertaking providing the service:
o In the case of geographic numbers, at a specific location; and
o In the case of non-geographic numbers, at any location.

As consumers we have must have the choice of which service provider we want to use. Most cellular and telephone subscribers however do not wish to lose their present number and therefore stay with the present provider. One of the toughest responsibilities facing the regulators in the Namibian telecom markets involves modernising our national numbering policies, numbering plans, and dialling plans.

We have to establish a numbering policy that provides a legal, legislative, and regulatory basis for competition. Then, our regulator must decide on numbering and dialling schemes, services, technologies, and billing and tariff methods that support its chosen numbering policy.

Lastly, it must also establish a fair, neutral office for numbering administration.

(I have heard the argument of the costs of implementing such a system – this however is always only the argument of the company with the biggest client base.)

- BTW the law allowing a more equal playing field will be tabled in parliament before it is 11 years old ;-)

during 2005 period i was engaged in msisdn dbservice, with different mobile providers such orange uk, bt, vodafone, mobile world, o2, and the list goes on, never ending story... germany, spain, sweden, australia, america, & argentina were on my dayly services sceduled.

i find of all, the australians have the most toughest laws on msisdn devices in regards to subscribers from pstn and plmn subscribers in foreign countries. they are straight to the point, in terms of releasing legal to be-disputes, and that helps a whole lot. the fines from them are hursh when it comes to stepping the line.

drop me a pm

give my regards to louw sr, if it needs refreshment, we were collegues in 81/82

The overpriced tax on cell minutes really hurts, i wonder if any of these cell phone companies profited or lost.
the government must be making an insane amount of money with this tax.

does the government own a portion of these telephone companies?
paying tax on something taxes paid for?

sorry off topic

Exactly Omer,

GRN should develop infratsructure for the people with taxes. They were not getting enough from the companies that they own (don't get me started on the "Principal-Agent problem") so they added another direct income stream.

Well well well, lot of change in the Telecommunications industry so far, including the Communications bill seeking to establish an interception centre....

Else prices/tariff changes and new and ongoing campaigns will always make a change to some views on a continious basis....

Here are some of the latest info I acquired as a user of Cellone:
pre-paid per second pricing is 2.5c onnet and 3c to MTC, Switch and fixed lines in the Nam, with 40c for sms to other networks and 5c onnet.

It sounds really good value for the mulah indeed, coupled with the newest campaign which allows for free calls btw 22h00 and 06h00 onnet!!

We should in general keep an eye on the interesting developments with the Mobile telecommunications arena.......

what are the shebeeners out there experiencing so far? Milton, Mie1, what are yo opinions in general?

Probably I am too old to appreciate the latest in cellular. I thumb type too slowly, and see no need to speak to a friend just because I can do it for free.

My snideness aside, the one area that will grow exponentially in Namibia is the m-money. This has taken off in east Africa and will soon become the easiest way to transfer money between parents and their children, etc. etc.

The question remains, will Telecom, as the CDMA cellular operator, bring all the goodies being developed in the East to Namibia as well?

Wait, watch and learn diya, it is on its very way as we speaketh ;-), am sure at least.....het a voeltjie hoor fluit in that direction...

ABSA in southern Africa at least definately has a product which can be safely termed a form of M-money at least, too sad they did not start operations as expected toward the end of year hey.... ;-)

I just bought my self a Cell-one (leo) starter pack and I found it to be cheaper even calling to MTC than calling from MTC to mTC