By Prof Marvin Awarab
The telecommunications industry is a significant component of realising sustainable development as espoused by the United Nations Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs). Particularly, when one considers the telecommunications industry as a key vehicle for increasing access to information and communications technology, one can thus not ignore its centrality to Namibia’s developmental agenda. Telecommunications provides universal and affordable access to internet in least developed countries, a development which fosters industrial growth. To that end, this opinion piece explores the importance of the telecommunications sector to development in Namibia and beyond.
What is telecommunication?
The electrical transfer of information over a distance, usually by cables, radio waves, or other communication technologies, is known as telecommunication, or simply telecom. The term Telecommunication therefore is associated with any telegraphic or telephonic communication of signs, signals, writing, facsimiles and sounds of any kind, by wire, wireless or other systems or processes of electric signaling or visual signaling. Since mobile telephony was invented, the majority of telcos have evolved into Internet service providers (ISPs). Hence it is impractical to speak about telecommunications in isolation from internet due to the interrelation and dependence of one on the other. The fundamental aspects of telecommunications include the transmitter, the transmission medium and the receiver. Without these three we cannot talk about telecommunications, much less the effectiveness thereof. Original information needs to be transmitted through the transmission medium and received on the other end by the receiver for telecommunication to have taken place. The practical understanding of how telecommunications operate helps one to appreciate the role telecommunications play in economic development.
Education in telecoms
Telecommunications have become part and parcel of the 21st century and therefore it is imperative that institutions of higher learning include telecommunications whether from a legal perspective or technical perspective in their curricula. A telecommunications curriculum for universities must cover key and foundational elements of network infrastructure, signal transmission, protocols, switching techniques, wireless communication, contemporary technologies like 5G, optics networks, and network security. Moreover, there should also be practical applications and hands-on experience with industry-standard tools.
Students should be trained to be internationally competitive. Although the main idea why we develop and realise skilled graduates into the market has been to serve the Namibian. However, due to global development this should no longer be the case. As institutions of higher learning, we need to train graduates for the world of work, not only for Namibia but the world at large. Whether they directly promote the country and place Namibia’s agenda on the international table through diplomatic missions or whether they simply intend to go work international in the private capacity, we still need to train and develop graduates for the global work as global citizens. As a global citizen it is important for graduates to be aware of and actively engage with global issues, understands the interconnectedness of the world, respects diverse cultures, and takes action to promote social justice, sustainability, and peace on a global scale, essentially seeing themselves as a citizen of the world rather than just one country. However, this requires training and skills set in the telecommunications operations and regulation which is asset for development, whether development from within or from outside the country.
In preparing graduates for the world of work, here are two pillars that we need to take into consideration, namely the theoretical and practical aspects, irrespective of the discipline. Hence, training graudates for the telecommunciations sector requires theoretical and practical training. One pillar cannot effectively achieve the objective of developing a well-grounded graduate ready for the world of work. A deeper knowledge of “why” things work the way they do is made possible by teaching theoretical features. In essence, theory provides a framework for effective explanation of complicated events and guidance of practical application. Practical teaching is crucial because it bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world application by enabling students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. This improves conceptual understanding, improves information retention, and enables students to solve problems successfully in real-world scenarios. Practical aspects on the other hand is vital because it bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world application thereby enabling students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. This improves conceptual understanding, improves information retention, and enables students to solve problems successfully in real-world scenarios.
Research in telecoms
Experts in the field of telecommunications need to take their mandate of research and innovation seriously. Research informs development. Hence, there is an imminent need for researchers in the field of telecommunications to be on the forefront of developments taking place in the telecoms sector, conduct cutting-edge research and test their findings in the Namibian context to determine the feasibility and practicability of its use in Namibia. As research and experts in the field, we need to get involved in international debates and discussions, make Namibia’s voice heard in the international community and contribute to international frameworks on telecommunications. Ultimately, research will thus be two-fold. Firstly, we will be able to draw from the international best practices and apply what’s relevant to our context. Secondly, we will be able to take the Namibian experience to the rest of the world by publicizing our findings and making Namibia’s voice heard and recognized internationally.
AI and new technologies
AI refers to technologies that allow computers to mimic human conduct and perform tasks that could otherwise require human intelligence. AI and new technologies have been universally recognised to foster development. New technologies such as machine learning, deep learning, computer vision and generative AI has become crucial in the telecommunications industry. It is important for the telecommunications licensees to invests in these technologies to improve their operations. These will place telecommunications licensees in a competitive position as far as service delivery is concerned. The world is operating in a fast-pace and customers want services that faster internet, better connectivity and affordable pricing. Hence, investing a new technology and advancing their services will place telecommunications licensees in a position that they are able to compete for clients. Fair competition is good for developing the digital space and promoting socio-economic development. Competition gives firms an incentive to innovate and innovation promotes development.
The link between the technical aspects and legal aspects of telecommunications
The telecommunications industry is essentially made up of two essential pillars, namely the regulatory pillar and the technical pillar. The regulatory pillar has to do with licensing of telecommunications service delivery and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory principles whether at national, regional or international level. The technical aspect involves the use of technology, commonly understood as the practical aspect of telecoms. The development of the telecommunications sector needs to consider both these aspects. As the new technologies are introduced, the law should keep up with regulating the use and operations of these new technologies.
Telecoms and market research
Market research for telecoms aids telecommunications licensees in understanding their clients, rivals, and market trends. This data can assist businesses in developing strategies to set their brand apart, attract and keep clients, and operate more efficiently. Knowing market trends is essential for telecommunications companies because it helps them stay ahead of the competition, adjust to changing customer demands, make wise investment choices, and seize new opportunities by spotting emerging technologies and market shifts. This is especially important as the industry rapidly changes due to innovations like 5G and 6G, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing integration; if businesses don’t keep up, they risk becoming irrelevant in the market and possibly losing money. There is evidence of telecommunications operators that have collapse and become bankrupt because of the inability to fully comprehend the market trends and make meaningful investments both financially and in the form of human capital.
Pricing in the telecoms sector
The cost of connectivity is a matter of concern in most jurisdictions. Telecommunications service providers inject a lot of money is acquiring new technologies and infrastructure. This is what sometimes increases the service subscription for clients. Once affordability is too high, connectivity decreases. However, we must understand that telecommunications service providers cannot operate optimally if the prices for their services are kept too low. Hence, a balancing approach needs to be taken to ensure that service fees are not kept too low whilst ensuring that licensees get money for their services. Given the fact that competition is increasing rapidly in the telecommunications industry especially increasingly in long-distance and wireless service, it is inevitable that prices for these services will continue to fall. This may lead to service providers operating at a loss. Revenue assurance is essential in telecommunications operations. In other words, telecommunications operators must ensure that revenue is adequately billed and collected. A good revenue strtegy will help telecommunications service providers to avoid or minimise unnecessary and unwanted financial losses and intensify operational efficiency.
The role of telecommunications in global development
As the backbone of international connectivity, information sharing, and technological advancement, telecommunications have emerged as a crucial component of modern economy. When we look at the history of telecommunications, it started with the invention of telephony in the 19th century. This simply entails the transmitting of human voice over long distances using electrical wires. This was soon followed by the introduction of mobile (cellular). The transition from analog to digital networks began. This allowed for faster data transmission. Another equally noticeable change was the emergence of cloud computing, streaming services and other like services. Recently, we have seen the introduction and deployment of 4G and 5G technologies which effectively offers faster speeds and lower latency. 6G technology is in sight, with the potential of advanced applications. Telecommunications operators need to be ready and prepared for adoption of new technologies as the world becomes digitally advanced and interconnected.
Telecommunications industry generally improves communication and collaboration amongst nations. This helps with trade and business operations between nations. The widespread availability of telecommunications enables companies to save operating expenses and streamline operations by utilising digital technology such as cloud computing and online productivity tools.
Africa’s competitive advantage in telecoms development
With a sizable, youthful population that uses smartphones more frequently and a comparatively “greenfield” market where new technologies can be easily embraced, Africa’s main competitive advantage in the telecommunications sector is its rapid mobile penetration and substantial market growth potential. This allows for faster innovation and market penetration than in saturated regions. With many people using their mobile phones to access the internet, Africa has one of the highest rates of mobile penetration in the world. This means that there is a sizable potential client base for services that are focused on mobile devices. Numerous African nations have put in place legislative frameworks that are conducive to investment and competition in the telecommunications industry. Effective regulatory ensures that the continent able to compete globally and pride itself in terms of the effective operations in the telecommunications sector and the benefits derived therefrom.
The is a great potential for the telecommunications operators to tap into for example mobile money and fintech applications that has already been utilized across the world.
The way forward
In order to bridge the digital divide and foster more equitable and inclusive access to telecommunications technologies, policy markers need to be at the forefront of international best practices in the sector to inform their own context. The governmen need to be perpetually conscience of the critical role the telecommunications sector plays in driving economic growth and social progress. If we have to realise commitment to ensure deployment of reliable infrastructure for communications to speed up development and faciliate trade amongst nations, as guaranteed under the SADC Protocol on Transport, Communication and Meteorology, Namibia needs to put up its sleeves and be proactive with the deployment of infrastructure.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) should continuously ensure effective governance of the telecommunications industry. The licensing of services and fostering fair and transparent competition should not secondary but should be at the core of the institution’s mandate. Arguably CRAN has done reasonably well in performing its functions, but for as long as the digital gap is still high in Namibia, the institution still has more work to do. The pace at which licenses are granted and the license conditions needs to be revised constantly to meet the market demand of digital connectivity.
At regional level the Communications Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa (CRASA), needs to continuously and proactively coordinate the harmonisation of communications regulation for the socio-economic benefit of Namibia and SADC. In particular the is a need to expand broadband access and harminisation of radiofrequency spectrum.
The telecommunications service providers need to continuously conduct market research to inform the operations. Competition is fierce in the telecoms industry and if care is not taken, the “you snooze-you lose” reality will ensue. A number of empirical studies have been conducted globally to test the correlation between economic growth and telecommunications development infrastructure, and overwhelming evidence suggest that access to communication and the use of internet services enhance productivity and assist businesses to obtain new business opportunities.
The clients must be well acquainted with the rights and duties as users or recipients of telecommunications services. If they do not have a full comprehension of their rights, they cannot fully enforce their rights and in certain circumstances forfeit benefits that could otherwise accrue to them.
As a nation we will be able to achieve socio-economic aspirations as contained in national, regional and international instruments if all telecommunications stakeholders play their part in telecommunications operations right from legislative and policy level to licensing and implementation of license conditions.
Prof Marvin Awarab is an Associate Professor of Law at Welwitchia University & Labour and Telecommunications Law Expert. This article is written in his personal capacity.