In today’s world, being connected to the internet is as essential as having electricity or water. It is how we work, study, communicate and even dream. For young Namibians, internet access is not a luxury anymore. It is a bridge to opportunity. Yet every month, the cost of data stands as a wall between that bridge and the people who need it most. This reality raises a question that is becoming louder across the world: should internet access be treated as a basic human right, and if so, why is it still so expensive for those who need it most?
The internet has become the heartbeat of modern life. From submitting job applications to accessing online learning platforms, it connects us to knowledge and opportunity. During the pandemic, the world saw how vital this connection really is. Students who could not afford data or gadgets were left behind while those with access continued to learn. That gap was not just digital but economic, social and emotional.
For many Namibian youths, the internet is a classroom, a business space and a stage to share their ideas. It is where creativity meets survival. A young artist can sell their work online. A small business owner can advertise on social media. A student can access study materials that their local library might not have. Yet all of these dreams come at a cost measured in gigabytes.
When a few hours of research or online learning consume half a person’s weekly data bundle, it becomes clear that data prices are not just about convenience; they are about fairness and equality.
The idea of internet access as a right is not new. In 2016, the United Nations declared that access to the internet is a human right because it enables freedom of expression, education and participation in society. Countries like Finland, Costa Rica and Estonia have even included digital access in their laws. They recognised that being disconnected means being excluded from modern life.
In Africa, however, this ideal faces many barriers, such as high infrastructure costs, limited competition among service providers and uneven access between urban and rural areas. Namibia is no exception. While Windhoek residents can buy data bundles at every corner, many rural areas still struggle with weak signals and expensive options. This unevenness deepens inequality.
For a nation that aims to empower its youth, affordable internet should not be a privilege. It should be a public good, just like public roads or education. After all, how can young people compete globally if they cannot even log on?
Let us talk about the numbers. Many young people in Namibia rely on prepaid data bundles. These bundles seem flexible at first glance, but in reality, they are traps of micro-spending. Five Namibian dollars here, ten there, and before you know it, by the end of the month, you realise you have spent more on data than on transport or food. Postpaid contracts, on the other hand, often require proof of income, making them inaccessible for unemployed or informal workers.
Internet costs also affect productivity. Imagine a university student who has to ration their data while attending an online lecture. They might have to turn off their camera or drop out of the call halfway through to save data. That is digital inequality in action.
Cheaper data would mean more students completing online courses, more young entrepreneurs running e-commerce ventures and more artists and influencers contributing to the digital economy. In simple terms, cheaper data would boost the nation’s human capital.
The issue of expensive data cannot be left entirely to market forces. Telecom companies exist to make profit, but governments exist to protect citizens’ welfare. Balancing those two is the challenge. The Namibian government has already taken steps toward improving connectivity through initiatives like the National Broadband Policy and partnerships to expand fibre networks, but access without affordability is like having a school without books.
Policymakers can consider creating regulations that promote competition, especially among mobile data providers. When one or two companies dominate the market, prices stay high. Encouraging more players or negotiating fairer wholesale data rates could push costs down. Public-private partnerships can also help fund rural towers and community internet hubs.
Universities and local councils could join this movement too. Free Wi-Fi zones in libraries (that actually work), parks, and campuses can give young people spaces to work and learn without worrying about data expiry dates. If the state can subsidise other essential services like healthcare or transport, why not data?
Education is one of the biggest reasons why internet access should be treated as a right. In today’s world, the best lessons are not only in classrooms but also online. Students at Namibian universities already use learning management systems like Moodle and Google Classroom. They download readings, upload assignments and participate in virtual discussions. All of that requires data.
When a student cannot afford to stay connected, they are excluded from learning. The internet has made education more democratic in theory; however, in practice, it can also reinforce inequality when some have full access and others do not. If the internet is the library of the modern world, then data is the price of admission, and that price should not be so high that it locks the doors on young minds.
Making data affordable is not charity; it is investment. A better-educated population benefits the entire economy. When young people learn online, they bring new skills into the job market, start businesses and create content that reflects local identity.
Namibia’s youth are incredibly creative. This is evident in TikTok videos and digital marketing and online stores; young people are redefining what work looks like. The internet has become their stage; only the high cost of data means the stage lights are dim. A young entrepreneur selling handmade crafts online cannot post regularly because uploading photos and videos consumes too much data. A digital marketer cannot test campaigns freely. A podcaster cannot upload episodes as often as they should.
Cheaper data could unlock a wave of innovation. It could mean more local content, more youth-owned digital agencies and more opportunities for collaboration. The global economy is increasingly digital, and Namibia’s youth deserve to be full participants, not spectators.
If we can afford to invest in physical roads, we must also invest in digital highways. Every data bundle purchased is not just a cost but rather, it is a ticket to the modern economy. Lowering those costs is like giving more young people a chance to board that bus.
It is important to also note that the internet is not just about information. It is about connection. For many young people, online spaces are where they find community, especially in a world where isolation and mental health struggles are rising. Social media, despite its flaws, allows people to share, learn and support one another. When data is too expensive, it cuts off those social lifelines.
Imagine someone struggling with anxiety or loneliness who cannot afford to join online support groups or chat with friends. Affordable internet is also about emotional well-being. It ensures that people stay connected to each other and to the world.
However, cheaper data must come with awareness. Being online brings benefits, but it also requires digital literacy. Young users must learn to manage screen time, protect their privacy, and consume information critically. Accessibility and education must go hand in hand.
It is time to hold service providers accountable. In a country where unemployment is high and incomes are modest, charging premium rates for basic connectivity is unjust. Transparency in pricing is essential. Consumers deserve to know why their data runs out so quickly, why there are so many hidden terms and why unused data expires. Regulators can step in to demand fairer practices.
At the same time, citizens have power. Through collective voices, petitions and consumer activism, young people can push for reforms. Social media campaigns can highlight how data costs affect daily life. The conversation must grow louder until policymakers and companies act.
Access to the internet is about equality, opportunity and dignity. It is everyone’s responsibility, from the state to private companies to ordinary citizens, to make it fair and sustainable. The internet has the power to lift communities, but only if everyone can afford to be part of it.
We should imagine a Namibia where every child in a rural village can access online lessons, where every youth entrepreneur can run a business from their phone and where every citizen can participate in the digital economy without financial strain. That vision is not impossible; it just requires willpower and empathy.
Internet access is no longer a question of luxury. It is the infrastructure of the mind, the network through which dreams travel. To deny affordable access is to deny equality. Every megabyte should open a door, not close it.
Cheaper data is not just an economic demand; it is a moral one. It affirms that every Namibian, regardless of where they live or how much they earn, deserves a voice in the digital world. When we make data affordable, we are not just connecting devices; we are connecting lives, futures and possibilities.
