MTC and NHE partner to integrate fibre connectivity into future housing developments
A long-anticipated collaboration between Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) and the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) was formally concluded today with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at transforming Namibia’s housing developments into digitally connected communities. The agreement, which had been in preparation for the past two years, was signed in Windhoek and brings together the two state-owned entities in a structured partnership focused on integrating telecommunications infrastructure into current and future NHE housing projects.
The MoU is a commitment to ensure that fibre connectivity and other digital infrastructure are incorporated during the early stages of civil works in new housing developments. This approach is expected to support the rollout of MTC’s Spectra Home fixed services, while also improving efficiency through coordinated trenching and infrastructure sharing. By aligning construction and telecommunications planning, the partnership aims to reduce overall infrastructure costs and accelerate the availability of high-speed internet in residential areas developed by NHE. The agreement also provides MTC access to open trenches during construction phases, allowing for the installation and commissioning of fibre networks alongside other essential services. Both institutions say this coordinated approach will significantly improve service delivery timelines for future homeowners.
Beyond fibre rollout, the partnership extends to broader cooperation in telecommunications and digital services, including mobile connectivity, internet solutions, wireless technologies, data management, surveillance systems, and related information technology services required in housing developments.
MTC Managing Director Dr Licky Erastus said the initiative reflects a shift towards building homes that are digitally enabled from inception rather than retrofitted later. He emphasised that access to smart and connected housing should become a standard feature of modern urban development in Namibia.
He added that the partnership will contribute to national digital transformation goals by ensuring that housing developments are supported by reliable and future-ready telecommunications infrastructure. A Joint Technical Steering Committee will be established to coordinate planning, oversee technical implementation, and support service rollout in designated areas. NHE Chief Executive Officer Gisbertus Mukulu described the partnership as an important example of collaboration between state-owned enterprises working towards a shared development agenda. He said such cooperation allows institutions to combine resources, improve efficiency, and deliver better outcomes for the communities they serve.
Mukulu further noted that the agreement is aligned with NHE’s mandate to provide sustainable, low- to medium-cost housing solutions that respond to the evolving needs of Namibians. He stressed that modern housing must now also include digital readiness as part of its core design. The MoU also provides for joint initiatives such as research collaboration, data sharing, and customer-focused innovation, all aimed at supporting Namibia’s broader development frameworks, including Vision 2030, Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the National Development Plan.
The signing of the agreement marks a key step towards the development of smart housing communities across Namibia, where infrastructure and connectivity are planned in tandem to meet the demands of an increasingly digital society.
