The Managing Director of MTC Namibia, Jose A Ferreira recently addressed the press outlining the future plans for the network operator. He noted that the company has invested over N$700 (US$95) million over the first 11 years of MTC's existence. During this financial year, the company will see an additional N$280 (US$38) million spent. Over a 12 year period that would be a total investment in excess of N$1 billion (US$130 million) by the end of September 2007.

The network now covers 88% of the population today (95% by end 2006), along with 46% Surface coverage (67% by end 2006), but remember that 1/3 of the country is desert, and 61% Road coverage (87% by end 2006). As far as actual sites are concerned since June 2006, the company has rolled out 38 new sites countrywide. Another 49 are expected to be commissioned by the end of October 2006 provided all goes well.

Back in August, the company announced in August that they will have a 3G network in Namibia by the end of December 2006. Phase 1 will see 3G deployed in Windhoek and the coastal settlements of Walvisbay and Swakopmund. Phase 2 will eventually cover majority of the country's commercial settlements.

Ferreira commented that "On the status of the project, I can confirm this morning that we are making good progress towards keeping the deadlines we have announced."

He also noted that the company is obliged to offer spare capacity to other operators, and did not rule out the emergence of MVNO's in the country.

The Mobile World subscriber database reports that MTC Namibia ended the first half of this year with an estimated 485,000 customers. The country has a population penetration level of 24%.