The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) and NORED Electricity have signed a five-year agreement to coordinate broadband and electricity infrastructure development, targeting improved digital connectivity in rural and underserved areas.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in Ondangwa on Tuesday, will allow the two institutions to align rural electrification projects with broadband network expansion, potentially enabling telecommunications infrastructure to be deployed alongside new electricity networks.
The partnership comes as access to reliable power remains critical to the expansion and operation of telecommunications infrastructure, including mobile base stations and broadband networks in remote areas.
Under the agreement, CRAN and NORED will collaborate on infrastructure planning, information and data sharing, capacity building, regulatory matters and knowledge exchange.
CRAN Chief Executive Officer Emilia Nghikembua said closer coordination between the telecommunications and electricity sectors could help address infrastructure gaps limiting access to digital services.
“The MoU represents an important milestone in strengthening collaboration between the communications and energy sectors. By working together, CRAN and NORED are laying the foundation for improved connectivity, enhanced service delivery, and greater socio-economic inclusion for all Namibians,” she said.
Nghikembua said improved coordination and information sharing could support the development of new approaches to extending broadband coverage and digital services to communities that remain underserved.
The partnership will also strengthen coordination around electricity outages that could disrupt telecommunications networks.
CRAN personnel will be added to NORED’s electricity outage communication platform, giving the regulator access to information on planned outages that could affect communications infrastructure and services.
NORED Chief Executive Officer Silvester Wayiti said integrating the planning of power and telecommunications infrastructure could improve access to essential services in remote communities.
“Reliable electricity and modern communications infrastructure are both critical enablers of economic growth and improved quality of life. This partnership positions our organisations to work more effectively together in supporting national development priorities and ensuring that communities benefit from integrated infrastructure planning,” he said.
The two institutions will also hold regular consultations and exchange information on infrastructure development and other areas of mutual interest over the five-year period.
The agreement is expected to support Namibia’s wider efforts to close the digital divide by improving coordination between the infrastructure needed to provide electricity and the networks required to deliver broadband and other digital services.
