According to the World Bank report on Internet activity in Africa, issued in 1998, there are four Internet hosts per 10, 000 people in Namibia.  The report defined Internet host as "those computers with active Internet Protocol (IP) addresses connected to the Internet."  As of 1997, there were four commercially Internet Service Providers in Namibia.  These were: 
 

• Internet World Wide Namibia (Web Site: www.iwwn.com.na)
• UUNET Internet Africa Namibia (Pty) Ltd.  (Web Site: www.uain.com.na)
• LIA Namibia (Web Site: www.lia.net)
• IML (Web Site: www.iml.com.na)

   NAMIDEF is a non-profit organization responsible for the development of Internet in Namibia.  UNICEF and the two largest computer dealers in the country immediately expressed their support financially and in kind resulting in a slow but steady rise in subscriptions.  Members of NAMIDEF pay a monthly fee of N$60 per month, which is approximately 14 US Dollars (1994 exchange rate)  (6) 

   Internet connection to the outside world goes through TeleCom Namibia.  Internet connection in Namibia began as a dial up connection, then it was up grade to TCP/IP in 1995.  Three of the four commercial ISPs operating in Namibia register their subscribers network within the .com.na and . org.na domains.  Most of the Internet service providers use Linux and the software run on (PPP,UUCP and the Apache HTTPD). 

   Internet Service Providers in Namibia can provide their own International bandwidth.  At the present time, the bandwidth in use is a 1Mbps through a fibre optic link in South Africa.  Three of the four commercial ISPs operating in Namibia register their customers' networks within the COM.NA and ORG.NA domains and the service is currently free of charge.  (6) 

   Internet connection to the outside world goes through TeleCom Namibia.  Internet connection in Namibia began as a dial up connection, then it was up grade to TCP/IP in 1995.

   Three of the four commercial ISPs operating in Namibia register their subscribers network within the .com.na and . org.na domains.  Most of the Internet service providers use Linux and the software run on (PPP,UUCP and the Apache HTTPD). 

   In 1995, as more people started using the Internet, a new line was leased, a 9600 bps land line, from Telecom Namibia.  The leased line was connected to UUINET-ZA at the Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg. 

   Internet points of presence Namibia, set up by the ISPs, are presently located in cities such as Windhoek, Otjiwarongo, Swakopmund, Tsumeb and Walfish Bay.  Local access in the 13 major towns is expected shortly.  (7) 

   The use of the Internet in Namibia is mainly in the Academic and research environments.  The University of Namibia was the first institution in Namibia to connect to the Internet and, also served as a host for other networks until the advent of the ISPs. 

   Individuals are just beginning to "wake up" to the Internet.  Also, the use of the Internet is concentrated in the developed cities of the country.  Cities such as Windhoek, the capital, Walvis Bay, Oranjemund, Henties Bay and Swakopmund.  Also, these are cities with a high level of tourists concentration, which may explain some of the reasons for the high level of Interest usage. 

   There are five major computer retailers in Namibia, some of them provide services as well. The five retailers are:

• Computers Sellers (Major)
• CTC Associates (Pty) Ltd.— www.ctc.com.na
• PC Centre– www.mac.com.na
• Intelligent Computer Products— www.icp.com.na
• Millenium Technology Holding— www.msn.com.na (8)

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