Digital connectivity costs face calls for reduction in Namibia and South Africa

Authorities and industry representatives in Namibia and South Africa are calling for urgent action to reduce the cost of data and digital devices to foster inclusive economic growth.

In Namibia, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) emphasized that high connectivity costs hinder access to online education, employment, and digital financial services. Speaking at the 9th ICT Summit, MICT Executive Director Linda Nakale identified lowering data costs and expanding national broadband coverage—particularly outside major urban centers like Windhoek—as essential priorities for the nation’s digital transformation.

In South Africa, the Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA) highlighted that while data prices have trended downward, the overall cost of digital communication and necessary hardware remains a barrier to Universal and Meaningful Connectivity (UMC). ISPA Chair Sasha Booth-Beharilal advocated for a free basic data allowance for those below the poverty line, noting that while such interventions exist in national policy, there has been a lack of substantive implementation by regulatory bodies to make both data and devices affordable.