ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates how donor-funded ICT research contributed to evidence-based policy-making and regulation in Namibia. It discusses sustainable development and ICTs, inefficient operators, information asymmetry and the role of regulators. The chapter then provides background on Namibia's Telecommunication sector. It links research-based publications and emerging recommendations to sector outcomes. Research ICT Africa (RIA) fills a strategic gap in the development of sustainable information societies and knowledge economies in Africa by supporting evidence-based information and communication technology (ICT) policy and regulation through research. The public and private sector and civil society are encouraged to use it for teaching, further research or to enable them to participate more effectively in national, regional and global ICT policy formulation and governance. The Namibian Communications Commission (NCC) reports to the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, and is solely funded by the government. The NCC becomes a fully fledged independent regulator for the entire ICT sector with the passing of the new Communications Bill.
