Staff Reporter
COMPUTATIONAL capability is becoming an important foundation of digital development, with countries needing more than technology infrastructure to benefit from artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital tools, according to Pascal Haingura, Executive: Engineering & Technical Services at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN).
Haingura argues that computational capability goes beyond computing power and infrastructure, referring to the combined ability of people, institutions and countries to use digital technologies, data and computing resources effectively to create value.
It includes access to devices, networks, cloud services, software platforms and data, but also the knowledge, skills and practical experience needed to use these resources effectively.
A country may have modern telecommunications infrastructure, data centres and access to global cloud platforms, but without the necessary digital skills and technical expertise, much of that infrastructure’s potential may remain unused.
“Technology can be purchased. Capability must be developed,” Haingura writes.
He says this distinction is particularly important as AI becomes increasingly widespread. AI systems depend on computing infrastructure, algorithms and large datasets, but also require people who can design, deploy, manage, evaluate and govern the technology responsibly.
The ability to adopt AI therefore depends not only on technological infrastructure but also on human capital.
Haingura says computational capability starts with basic digital literacy, with citizens needing to understand how to use technology safely, responsibly and effectively. However, the skills required for a modern digital economy extend to areas such as software engineering, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud computing, machine learning, systems architecture and digital governance.
Researchers need advanced scientific and engineering skills, public institutions need people who can use data to improve services, and businesses need professionals who can incorporate technology into their operations and decision-making.
He notes that not everyone needs to become a software developer or AI engineer. Instead, each sector requires an appropriate level of digital competence.
Healthcare workers, for example, need to understand digital health systems, while teachers need to use educational technologies effectively. Financial professionals increasingly rely on data analysis and automation, while leaders need enough knowledge of technology to make informed strategic decisions.
Haingura also emphasises the importance of practical experience, arguing that capability is not developed through academic qualifications alone.
Experimentation, research, mentorship, hands-on problem-solving and continuous learning all contribute to building capability. Developing engineers, researchers, cybersecurity professionals, data scientists and technology leaders creates what he describes as a form of intellectual infrastructure that becomes more valuable over time.
This intellectual infrastructure can be more important than hardware because technology can amplify human capability but cannot replace critical thinking, judgement and an understanding of local circumstances.
Even advanced technologies require people who can assess their outputs, identify risks and ensure that digital solutions meet real-world needs.
Haingura argues that the digital divide can therefore exist even among people, organisations and countries with similar levels of internet access.
The difference increasingly lies between those who create and those who only consume, those who innovate and those who only adopt, and those who understand technology and those who simply use it.
For Namibia and other developing economies, he sees both a challenge and an opportunity.
The challenge is developing the necessary skills and expertise at scale, while the opportunity lies in using available technologies to address local challenges without necessarily having to build the world’s largest technology infrastructure.
“The future belongs to societies that combine access with capability,” Haingura writes.
He concludes that computational capability is becoming an important factor in national competitiveness, innovation and digital resilience, as the ability to understand, apply and improve digital tools increasingly shapes long-term economic and social development.
Photo: CRAN
