by ALFRED SHILONGO
WINDHOEK – THE western Namibian town of Usakos is to be developed into a smart city after the mobile operator, Telecom Namibia, and the local council signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU).
This agreement is a significant step in the town’s digital transformation, promising enhanced connectivity, economic growth, and an improved quality of life for the residents in the 58 square kilometre-town with a population of over 5 000 people.
The collaboration sealed on Monday is to focus on Telecom Namibia delivering its network and opening doors to advanced digital and value-added services.
Main areas of cooperation include rolling out of infrastructure that will power the digital transformation of the town for current and future Usakos Town Council developments.
This initiative builds on Telecom Namibia’s partnership with OMDis in Oranjemund, a town also undergoing a smart city transformation.
The ongoing Oranjemund project deployed 67,6 km of new fibre routes, adding to Telecom Namibia national fibre backbone that now spans over 13 000 km across the Southern Africa country.
“The MoU is more than a formal agreement. It is a bold, shared commitment to transform Usakos into a smart city and to advance inclusive development throughout the Erongo region,” said Natalia IGoagoses, Governor of Erongo.
(NB:Surname indeed starts with 2 capital letters)
She was speaking at the signing ceremony, also attended by Stanley Shanapinda, Telecom Namibia Chief Executive Officer.
Shanapinda said this project would set a benchmark for other towns, necessitating closer cooperation between town councils and the ICT sector to ensure smart homes and businesses.
“We are positioned and experienced to emulate this success in any other given town, bringing immense value through future-proof fibre technology that promises less maintenance and increased speed capacity benefits,” Shanapinda added.
The Usakos project follows on from Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city, which aims to become a smart city by 2027.
– CAJ News
