The Genius That Was Never Commercialised: The Story of Simon Petrus

Petrus, then a Grade 12 learner at Abraham Iyambo Senior Secondary School in the Ohangwena Region, built the phone using scraps of old televisions and mobile phones. The device operated using radio frequencies, allowing users to make calls without interruption as long as they were within a radio frequency area. The project took two years to complete with financial help from his unemployed parents and a few community members.

Beyond its communication function, the invention was a multifunctional unit that included a built-in television set, radio, light bulb, fan, and sockets to charge other devices. It functioned off power supplied through a radiator.

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Recognition and Early Promise

Petrus won first place at the Nampower National Science Fair for young innovators in 2016 for his creation. His achievement captured national and international media attention. He was described as a rising star and a genius, with many expecting the Namibian government to help him develop his invention.

The inventor received a three-year study sponsorship from Erongo Marine Enterprises, valued at N$135,000, to pursue a course in electronics at the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre. He enrolled in February 2018 with hopes of putting Namibia and the continent on the map with more ground-breaking inventions.

The Sam Nujoma Foundation also provided assistance. Petrus was attached to NamWater for 18 months after completing his studies.

Setbacks and Unfulfilled Promises

Despite the early promise, the path for Petrus has been marked by obstacles. After he failed his Grade 12 examinations, a mobile operator reportedly withdrew a promised study sponsorship. The operator later said it was unaware of any formal agreement.

In 2018, Petrus was involved in a car accident that put him in a coma. He was rescued by the wife of an engineer, who helped him recover.

Despite completing his studies in 2023, Petrus has struggled to find employment in his field. He continues to work on the prototype, which he calls the "Simon Petrus Phone," but has not been able to find the support needed to bring it to market.

How the Phone Works

The device uses radio frequencies to transmit voice signals, functioning similarly to a walkie-talkie but designed to be used as a phone. It does not rely on telecommunications infrastructure, making it particularly valuable for remote and rural areas where cellular networks are unreliable or non-existent.

Petrus's parents, who were unemployed, raised over $2,000 to help fund his project. The device, which took two years to build, was constructed using recycled electronic components and a simple circuit.

Key Differences from a Standard Mobile Phone

The Walkie-Talkie Comparison

The comparison to a walkie-talkie is quite accurate for a few key reasons:

Radio Technology: The core of his invention is the use of radio frequencies for communication. This is the same fundamental technology used in walkie-talkies, which are essentially portable two-way radios.

Infrastructure Independence: Like a walkie-talkie, his phone operates without the need for a SIM card or a pre-existing cellular network.

Target Application: The device was built to be useful in rural areas with poor or no network coverage. This aligns perfectly with a walkie-talkie's purpose of providing communication in locations without a standard network.

More Than a Walkie-Talkie

While its core communication method is analogous to a walkie-talkie, Petrus's invention is also much more. He essentially created a "Swiss Army knife" of electronics. He integrated a working radio, television, fan and power sockets into the same box built from old electronics. This is a crucial distinction—it was a portable power and entertainment station, not just a communication tool.

Why It Remained a Prototype

The device could not be commercialised due to a few significant hurdles:

Regulatory Issues: The Namibian Communications Regulatory Authority stated that the device needed to be properly licensed and registered, as its radio frequency could interfere with other critical communications.

Funding and Support: Despite early recognition, financial and institutional backing dried up, meaning he could not develop the prototype further.

Bureaucratic Obstacles: Petrus has expressed frustration, believing his invention was viewed as a threat to telecom operators.

"I am not happy with how my prototype was treated by the experts. I expected that this project would be implemented somewhere in the world. What is the point of submitting ideas to the nation if nothing is implemented?" he said in a 2022 interview.

The Bigger Picture

Petrus's story has become emblematic of a broader pattern: talented young African innovators struggling to get support for their ideas, even when they produce impactful prototypes. Years later, his device still exists only as a prototype, and he remains unemployed, continuing to work on improving the project.

The telecommunications industry may have seen his device as a threat, but for rural communities lacking connectivity, his invention represented a potential lifeline.

With reporting from New Era, The Namibia Economist, Zoomit, GameStar and various social media sources.