The Electricity Control Board (ECB) and the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing to collaborate on areas of common interest and for the effective and efficient performance of their respective mandates.
The ECB is established in terms of the Electricity Act, (No. 4 of 2007) as the regulator of the electricity industry in Namibia, whilst CRAN is established in terms of Section 4 of the Communications Act, (No. 8 of 2009), as an independent regulator of telecommunications services and networks, broadcasting services, postal services, and the use and allocation of radio spectrum.
Consequently, through the MoU, both ECB and CRAN plan to coordinate and harmonise their mandates in areas of mutual interest and to ensure the consistent application of their respective regulatory frameworks.
This partnership undertakes to set out how the Parties will interact and cooperate with each other in respect of good regulatory practices, information sharing regarding electricity provision and networks, extension of rural electrification services, the implementation of the Universal Service Fund, load shedding probabilities, public enterprise reporting, the implementation of the Access to Information Act, smart grids and vending systems as well as any other matter that may be of mutual interest and that may lead to cooperation.
Considering the fact that the rapid evolution of the communications and electricity sectors give rise to complex regulatory challenges globally, the ECB and CRAN agree to cooperate in the following areas:
- Sharing of information and data on the electricity network and supply situation in Namibia and future rural electrification roll out plans.
- Implementation of Universal Service Fund as envisaged in section 56 of the Communications Act, No. 8 of 2008, to enable the Parties to provide services or infrastructure for the provision of universal service and access to electricity and telecommunication services in Namibia.
- Public enterprise reporting obligations and other areas of common interest as per the relevant legislations.
- Exchange of information on laws, regulations, directives, guidelines, instructions, or resolutions relating to the action of the other Party, or any projects such as licensing automation or standards or regulatory requirements relating to the operation and control of the other, and on any substantial developments that may occur.
- Implementation of cyber security and access to information legislation.
Furthermore, a joint Implementation and Monitoring Committee will be established to oversee the implementation of this MoU and make any recommendations on the identified challenges and submit an annual monitoring and evaluation report. The sharing of information and resources is key to the implementation of this MoU, provided that disclosure and compliance to requests for information or resources sharing do not interfere with investigations or impede on the independence of our two institutions.
Both ECB and CRAN entered the MoU in a spirit of goodwill and commit to a mutually beneficial relationship expected to impact the two industries.