Outapi: Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, has said that the Namibian government remains committed to improving mobile network coverage across the country but has urged rural communities to remain patient.

According to Namibia Press Agency, on Saturday, the minister met with the Olupaka community in the Outapi Constituency of the Omusati Region as part of a national effort to enhance access to reliable mobile and internet services for more Namibians. Theofelus was accompanied by a technical team from Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) to update community members on the challenges faced in the area, which continues to struggle with poor network connectivity despite being surrounded by several network towers.

MTC has been conducting assessments in the northern parts of the country as part of its nationwide 'Project Buffalo,' which aims to improve network quality and service experience. The project specifically targets areas with weak connectivity and seeks ways to enhance coverage. During her second visit to Olupaka, Theofelus said that while there had been improvements through upgrades to towers surrounding the area, "there are still zones without reliable signal. Through MTC's Project Buffalo, we are looking at how to strengthen existing infrastructure to boost coverage without necessarily building a tower every few kilometres."

She explained that the government was balancing connectivity priorities with other basic needs such as water, electricity, and road infrastructure. "It's definitely still work in progress. We try to work alongside our sister ministries because sometimes you need to prioritise water or electricity, and then connectivity follows," she said.

Theofelus further explained that through the Universal Service Fund (USF), the ICT Ministry supports MTC and Telecom Namibia in extending network and internet services to schools, clinics, and other public facilities. "This is our way of ensuring that learners and health nurses in remote areas are connected."

Through the USF, the ministry has budgeted N.dollars 135 million over three financial years to expand network infrastructure. She said that N.dollars 40 million had been allocated for the 2024/25 financial year, during which nine towers were erected, with the same amount budgeted for the current financial year.

MTC's General Manager for Networks, Ludwig Tjitadi, said Project Buffalo aims to improve network quality by upgrading existing sites, replacing outdated equipment, and eventually constructing new towers. "We started Project Buffalo to strengthen coverage and ensure customers across Namibia can access 4G services," he said, adding that phase one of the project, which focuses on assessing network quality, will be completed by 15 December 2025.

"So, when we look at our customers, we say, when we look at our towers, we say first we need to fully utilise the tower resources that we have. That is the first aspect of Project Buffalo, by giving more power to the sites, extending maximum coverage and utilising all the licences that we have in order to improve existing services and reach those people who are on the edge of the network," he explained.