At a landmark event in Oikokola, Etayi Constituency, Omusati Region, the Namibian Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Honourable Emma Theofelus, MP, officially launched 25 new PowerCom network towers on 21 August 2025. This initiative marks a significant milestone in expanding digital infrastructure to underserved and rural areas, advancing Namibia’s National Development Plan 6 (NDP6) and Vision 2030.
Minister Theofelus opened the ceremony by acknowledging the warm hospitality of Omusati’s leadership and underscoring the cultural and agricultural importance of the region. She emphasized that the government’s vision is to ensure growth and prosperity are inclusive, reaching every household—not just urban centers. These 25 towers, scattered across multiple regions including Erongo, Khomas, Otjozondjupa, Kavango East and West, Karas, Oshana, Oshikoto, Zambezi, and Omusati, represent a foundational investment towards bridging the digital divide.
The Omusati sites, including the prominent Oikokola Network Tower, serve as symbolic emblematic launches of these telecommunications assets. The towers are integral to Namibia’s strategy to build a knowledge-based economy where access to digital technology is a right, not a privilege.
Key goals under NDP6 and the National Digital Strategy highlighted by the Minister include:
• Expanding internet access from slightly above 50% today to 90% of the population by 2030
• Increasing digital technology adoption from 28% to 70% within the same period
• Boosting the ICT sector’s GDP contribution from 1.6% to over 4%
• Digitizing 100% of government services by 2029/30 with support from national digital ID systems and secure interoperable platforms
Minister Theofelus pointed to the critical role connectivity plays for all Namibians, especially those in rural areas facing challenges such as distance and limited infrastructure. Enhanced connectivity will enable farmers with real-time weather and market information, empower entrepreneurs to access digital markets, advance healthcare through e-health platforms, and enrich education with online resources and global classrooms.
The Minister called on communities, particularly youth, farmers, and traders, to actively embrace and protect the new infrastructure. This collaborative stewardship is vital to transforming these towers from mere structures into catalysts for equitable opportunity and sustained development.
Recognizing the joint effort between government and private sector, Minister Theofelus commended PowerCom, its leadership, and partners for their investment and commitment to nationwide digital inclusion. She reinforced that development requires collective responsibility among leaders, communities, businesses, and youth to realize a Namibia that is inclusive, competitive, and globally connected.
As the ribbon was cut to inaugurate the Oikokola tower and its counterparts, Minister Theofelus framed the occasion as the beginning of a new era not only for Omusati but for all of Namibia. She envisioned a future where Namibia is not only a consumer of technology but an active contributor to Africa’s digital transformation. Through these incremental steps infrastructure tower by tower, community by community Namibia moves closer to a future where no region is forgotten, no child is left behind, and all citizens can participate fully in the digital economy.
The launch of these 25 PowerCom towers stands as a beacon of progress and a call to action to harness technology for inclusive national growth and resilience in the digital age.
