Communications Act, 2009
The Objectives of the Communications Act are to:
- establish the general framework governing the opening of the telecommunication sector in Namibia to competition;
- provide for the regulation and control of communications activities by an independent regulatory authority;
- promote the availability of a wide range of high quality, reliable and efficient telecommunications services to all users in the country;
- promote technological innovation and the deployment of advanced facilities and services in order to respond to the diverse needs of commerce and industry and support the social and economic growth of Namibia;
- encourage local participation in the communications sector in Namibia;
- increase access to telecommunications and advanced information services to all regions of Namibia at just, reasonable and affordable prices;
- ensure that the costs to customers for telecommunications services are just, reasonable and affordable;
- stimulate the commercial development and use of the radio frequency spectrum in the best interests of Namibia;
- encourage private investment in the telecommunications sector;
- enhance regional and global integration and cooperation in the field of communications;
- ensure fair competition and consumer protection in the telecommunications sector; and
- advance and protect the interests of the public in the providing of communications services and the allocation of radio frequencies to the public.
To provide for the regulation of telecommunications services and networks, broadcasting, postal services and the use and allocation of radio spectrum; for that purpose the establishment of an independent Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia; to make provision for its powers and functions; the granting of special rights to telecommunications licensees; the creation of an Association to manage the internet domain name space and for matters connected therewith.
The expected results of the Communications Act are:
- to have an established general framework govern the telecommunication sector in Namibia to with improved competition;
- communications activities by an independent regulatory authority regulated and controled;
- to have a wide range of high quality, reliable and efficient telecommunications services to all users in the country availed;
- to have technological innovation and the deployment of advanced facilities and services in order to respond to the diverse needs of commerce and industry supported ;
- to have local participation in the communications sector in Namibia increased;
- Increased access to telecommunications and advanced information services to all regions of Namibia at just, reasonable and affordable prices;
- to have telecommunications services that are just, reasonable and affordable for customers;
- Stimulate the commercial development and use of the radio frequency spectrum in the best interests of Namibia;
- Have more private investment in the telecommunications sector;
- Have more regional and global integration and cooperation in the field of communications;
- fair competition and consumer protection in the telecommunications sector encouraged; and
- to have advanced and protected public interest in the provision of communications services and the allocation of radio frequencies.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia is funded through state subsidy and resorts under the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology. It has the jurisdiction to raise funds from its own initiatives.