Telecom makes ‘switch’ for Swakop

SWAKOPMUNDERS will soon be able to enjoy Telecom’s Switch mobile service along with the rest of the country.

Telecom introduced its new wireless service at the end of last year, but it could not be implemented in most parts of Swakopmund because the band frequency it uses clashed with that of the Trinity Broadcasting Namibia (TBN) TV station. TBN was allocated the frequency in 2001, says TBN’s Managing Director, Coenie Botha.”The Namibia Communications Commission (NCC) has finally allocated a new VHF frequency to TBN to enable Telecom to implement their Switch system in the Swakopmund area,” Botha told The Namibian yesterday.”TBN is now making the necessary changes to their equipment and once we … have tested the new VHF frequency and the system works properly, the current TBN UHF frequency will end, which should be by Friday, so that Telecom can use that frequency.”The delay in the introduction of Switch has been frustrating for people living in Swakopmund’s Extension 9, north of Vineta.With the introduction of Switch in mind, Telecom did not lay landlines in this residential area, so residents have had to rely on cellphones.Telecom had hoped to solve the frequency conflict within the next two to three months, but managed to do it within a month.TBN was allocated the frequency in 2001, says TBN’s Managing Director, Coenie Botha.”The Namibia Communications Commission (NCC) has finally allocated a new VHF frequency to TBN to enable Telecom to implement their Switch system in the Swakopmund area,” Botha told The Namibian yesterday.”TBN is now making the necessary changes to their equipment and once we … have tested the new VHF frequency and the system works properly, the current TBN UHF frequency will end, which should be by Friday, so that Telecom can use that frequency.”The delay in the introduction of Switch has been frustrating for people living in Swakopmund’s Extension 9, north of Vineta.With the introduction of Switch in mind, Telecom did not lay landlines in this residential area, so residents have had to rely on cellphones.Telecom had hoped to solve the frequency conflict within the next two to three months, but managed to do it within a month.