SWITCH spreads to more towns

TELECOM Namibia yesterday announced that it had expanded its wireless CDMA infrastructure to nine more towns and settlements in Namibia.

“The services which are offered under the Switch brand have been launch today at Rehoboth, Mariental, Opuwo, Grootfontein, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Okakarara, Oshivelo and Onesi,” said Telecom spokesperson, Oiva Angula. He also said that despite the temporary restriction of the Switch service, customers in these newly connected towns and settlements will be able to make use of Switch services in their geographic areas without any limitation.”Switch customers are able to make and receive calls, send and receive smses and access the Internet with their Switch phones in their selected geographic areas.These calls can be made to local, national and international destinations, meaning that there is no restriction in terms of the destination to which phone calls can be made and smses can be sent and received,” Angula explained.Telecom launched its commercial Switch service in Windhoek in November last year, followed by similar launches at Oshakati, Omuthiya, Okahao, Ombalantu, Ohangwena, Oluno, Ongwediva, Eenhana, Omundaungilo, Ondobe, Ondangwa, Otjiwarongo, Tsumeb, Windhoek, Okahandja, Henties Bay, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Keetmanshoop.According to the company, the introduction of wireless technology is a way to accelerate the development of radio-based and satellite technology, and also to thwart the chronic theft of copper wire.Several kilometres of phone line disappeared in rural regions of the country, prompting the national’s sole fixed-line operator to introduce more wireless and satellite technology along with non-copper wiring wherever possible.Angula said a further roll-out of the CDMA network to replace obsolete technologies was on the cards for 2007 and beyond, so as to extend mobile services.He also said that despite the temporary restriction of the Switch service, customers in these newly connected towns and settlements will be able to make use of Switch services in their geographic areas without any limitation.”Switch customers are able to make and receive calls, send and receive smses and access the Internet with their Switch phones in their selected geographic areas.These calls can be made to local, national and international destinations, meaning that there is no restriction in terms of the destination to which phone calls can be made and smses can be sent and received,” Angula explained.Telecom launched its commercial Switch service in Windhoek in November last year, followed by similar launches at Oshakati, Omuthiya, Okahao, Ombalantu, Ohangwena, Oluno, Ongwediva, Eenhana, Omundaungilo, Ondobe, Ondangwa, Otjiwarongo, Tsumeb, Windhoek, Okahandja, Henties Bay, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Keetmanshoop.According to the company, the introduction of wireless technology is a way to accelerate the development of radio-based and satellite technology, and also to thwart the chronic theft of copper wire.Several kilometres of phone line disappeared in rural regions of the country, prompting the national’s sole fixed-line operator to introduce more wireless and satellite technology along with non-copper wiring wherever possible.Angula said a further roll-out of the CDMA network to replace obsolete technologies was on the cards for 2007 and beyond, so as to extend mobile services.