MEASURING NAMIBIA’S
TECHNOLOGICAL READINESS
by Sammeline Felix
28 November 2013
Purpose: Information Sharing
1. To provide an update on
technological readiness (NRI);
Namibia’s
2. To provide an update on Namibia’s
competitiveness as an economy (GCI);
3. To highlight improvement and room for
improvement;
4. To indicate
progress.
CRAN’s
achievements
and
Background
1. GIT and GC Reports are annual publications of the
World Economic Forum for the past decade.
2. Secondary data sources used.
3. CRAN complete various ITU questionnaires annually.
3. 144 countries world-wide are included of which 34
were sub-Saharan Africa countries in 2012.
GIT Report:
1. Measures technological readiness in terms of
the Network Readiness Index (NRI);
2. Main sub indexes determine the NRI namely, the
Environmental, Readiness, Usage and Impact
sub indexes.
Environmental sub index
Pillar 1: Political and regulatory environment (58th, 3.3 out of 7) 
Environmental sub index
Pillar 2: Business and innovation environment (112th; 3.7 out of 7) 
Readiness sub index
Pillar 3: Infrastructure and digital content (102nd; 3 out of 7) 
Readiness sub index
Pillar 4: Affordability (117th; 3.1 out of 7) 
Readiness sub index
Pillar 5: Skills (111th; 3.7 out of 7) 
Readiness sub index
Pillar 6: Individual usage (99th; 2.5 out of 7) 
Usage sub index
Pillar 7: Business Usage (76th; 3.4 out of 7) 
Usage sub index
Pillar 8: Government usage (116th; 3.4 out of 7) 
Impact sub index
Pillar 9: Economic impact (117th; 2.7 out of 7) 
Impact sub index
Pillar 10: Social impact (121st ; 2.8 out of 7) 
Namibia’s NRI 
from 105 to 111 in 2012
INDEX
2010 (out of 139)
2011 (out of 142)
2012 (out of 144)
NRI
82
105
111
NRI for sub-Saharan Africa,
2012, top 15 countries
CRAN PLAYING BY THE RULES
GC Report
•
Measures the competitiveness of a country
in terms of the Global Competitiveness Index
(GCI);
•
The GCI is determined by 3 main sub indexes
namely, Basic requirements, Efficiency
enhancers, Innovation and sophistication
factors;
Namibia’s GCI 
from 83 to 92 in 2012
INDEX
2010 (out of 139) 2011 (out of 142) 2012 (out of 144)
GCI
74
83
92
GCI for sub-Saharan Arica, 2012,
top 15 countries
Recommendations
R1: That educational systems be improved from primary level upward in
Namibia;
R2: That the subject areas of Science and Mathematics be prioritised with
clear action plans and financial commitment secured to support a
knowledge based economy in Namibia;
R3: That funds and expertise be made available for innovation. That related
research activities be introduced, supported and maintained to enhance
local product and procedure development in order to expand the value
chain in Namibia and in turn, enhance market size (local and foreign);
R4: That Government take the lead in the adoption of ICTs in all internal
business processes and in Government functions such as public
services provision and access to basic services to promote ICT usage and
integration in all sectors in Namibia;
R5: That Government takes the lead in the procurement of new technologies
and the promotion thereof;
Recommendations
R6: That Internet access be prioritised in all schools in Namibia;
R7: That computer access on household level be supported;
R8: That high-fixed broadband Internet tariffs be lowered to support the
above;
R9: That ICT laws be updated and maintained to support and secure
stakeholder (entrepreneurs) protection;
R10: That all stakeholders; government, corporate, education and
private, support and promote innovation in ICT.
CRAN PLAYING BY THE RULES
CRAN’s Efforts
RECOMMENDATION
FOCUS AREA
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE
PROGRESS MADE
R6:
That Internet access be
prioritised in all schools in
Namibia;
Universal Service (US)
Support ICT access for schools,
health clinics, and other public
institutions, as well as access to
ICT infrastructure, equipment,
content and applications, along
with capacity building
1. Draft UAS Policies are being
adopted;
R7:
That computer access on
household level be supported;
R8:
That High fixed broadband
Internet tariffs be lowered to
support abovementioned
priorities.
2. In the process to set up the
Universal Access Fund (UAF)
and the administrative structure
to support the Fund.
Promote increased access to ICT
infrastructure, services and
content to all underserved and
unserved areas and populations
of Namibia
1. A Cost Accounting System is
being developed, ready by 2014
2. Long Run Incremental Study
(LRIC) being done to ensure
lower non-discriminatory rates.
CRAN’s Efforts
• CRAN continuously drafting new regulations.
• Leased line cost study is being conducted.
• New competition leads to reduction in prices.
THANK YOU