2. How ICT Regulation Creates a Framework to Enhance Economic Development
Festus K. Mbandeka
Chief Executive Officer, 10 October 2017

3. INTRODUCTION
ICT is a key driver and an enabler for economic growth and diversification.
Namibia regards ICT as one of the key components of its national socio-economic development plans i.e. HPP,NDPs, Vision 2030.
ICT can only yield positive results if countries establish the right policy interventions, resource investment and good enabling environment.
CRAN is tasked with establishing the general framework for the opening up the ICT sector.

4. MANDATE OF CRAN To provide for the regulation of:
Telecommunications services and networks;
Broadcasting;
Postal services and the use and allocation of radio spectrum;
Granting of Special Rights to telecommunications licensees; and
The creation of an association to manage the .na domain name space
11/7/2018

5. RELEVANT OBJECTIVES OF THE ACT
To establish the general framework governing the opening of the telecommunication sector in Namibia to competition;
To ensure fair competition and consumer protection in the industry;
To encourage local participation in the communications sector in Namibia;
11/7/2018

6. THE ROLE OF THE REGULATOR
Create incentives, help mobilize capital, and limit regulation for ICT innovation;
Regulate costing and pricing in order to create competition, stabilize the market and protect the interests of the consumers;
Must be predictable, accountable and transparent in order to instil confidence and gain credibility with the operators, consumers and investors;
Must be impartial by attending to enforcement and dispute resolution fairly and in a non-discriminatory manner.
Create an environment where the operators and investor feel that their interest are protected.
The Role of the regulator in promoting economic opportunities in the ICT sector may be summarized as follows:

7. REGULATORY INTERVENTIONS
Licensees can provide any service with any technology to consumers, which creates more opportunities.
Service and Technology Neutral License Regime
Consumer protection decisions with a wider application which ensure fair industry practices and allows consumers to get value for money.
Consumer Protection Initiatives

8. REGULATORY INTERVENTIONS
Will facilitate the sharing of infrastructure amongst licensees – to avoid duplication of infrastructure leading to money spend where not needed.
Which will ensure that consumers have access to a variety of ICT products and services at just and affordable prices.
Infrastructure sharing regulations
Will ensure that communities living in areas that are otherwise unprofitable to licensees, also have access to ICT services and products at just and affordable prices.
Create oppertunities for small and upcoming business to look for alternative solutions to service remote areas.
The Universal Service Fund /UAS

9. REGULATORY INTERVENTIONS
Will facilitate the introduction of number portability – enable customers to port their number from one operator to another.
Numbering Plan
Imposes minimum standards on licensees in terms of service provisioning.
To ensure that customers get value for money.
Quality of Service Regulations

10. RESULTS OF THE REGULATORY INTERVENTIONS
Namibia’s competitive index rating has improved over the past 4 years as per table below.
INDEX
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Network Readiness Index (NRI)
105
111
102 99
Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) 83 92 90 88 85

11. TERMINATION RATES
As from 4 Oct 2016 the termination rate dropped to 10c.

12. AFFORDABLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
Namibia is ranked 21st out of African countries and 5th in SADC in terms of prepaid broadband prices.

13. Namibia ranks 16th among African countries and 4th in SADC in terms of cheapest voice and SMS product in a country

14. PRICE COMPARISON
This table Displays the cheapest prices of TN Mobile and MTC for the 30 calls and 100 SMSs OECD basket in Namibian Dollar. MTC’s prices have slightly increased in Q2 2017, but MTC remains the cheapest operator for voice and SMS.

15. ROAMING IN THE SADC REGION
“Roaming like at Home” Pilot Project under CRASA is to facilitate the lowering of the roaming prices and allow for the increase in communication across the SADC borders thereby facilitating the social and economic development of the Region.
Six countries are currently implementing, namely Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. South African operators Vodacom and MTN joined voluntary and are negotiating at group level.
On average retail voice tariffs for “calls to home countries” reduced by 19%.
Retail data tariffs reduced on average by more than 60%.

16. CONCLUSION
ICT is a catalyst in moving Namibia towards an information-based economy as propounded in Vision 2030.
In order to realise its potential, ICT must be part of a mix of sound governmental policies and a supportive regulatory framework.
CRAN achieves its mandate through the liberalisation of the ICT market by creating competitive market conditions.
Some exponents argue that over- regulation stifles innovation. (Regulation vs over-regulation)
Challenges and Opportunities: DTT, Cyber Security, Innovative Solutions/Disruptive Technologies
However, effective regulation has proven to result in greater economic growth, increased investment, lower prices, better quality of service, higher penetration, and more rapid technological innovation in the sector.

17. Thank you !