In 2015, A Namibian Teen Created A Chipless Phone That Made Calls Via Radio — But 10 Years Later, What Happened To Him Is Surprising

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 17/06/2025 at 12:05

Updated on 17/06/2025 at 19:34

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Simon Petrus Became Famous for Creating a Mobile Phone That Makes Calls Without a SIM Card or Credit, But Nearly a Decade Later, He Still Seeks Support to Innovate.

In 2015, a teenager from Namibia began to build something that would change his life. His name is Simon Petrus. At just 17 years old, he started working on an ambitious project: to build a mobile phone that would work without a SIM card, without credit, and without relying on any carrier.

All of this using repurposed parts from old televisions, radios, and broken cell phones.

His Story

For two years, Petrus worked alone on the project, without technical or financial support. His parents, even unemployed, helped as much as they could.

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He assembled the device by hand and, in 2016, presented the prototype at a science fair in Namibia. The phone was an immediate success.

The device operated through radio waves. This allowed calls to be made for free, without needing a phone line.

In addition, the device included functions such as TV, FM radio, fan, flashlight, and USB charger. All in one structure.

The prototype won the national innovation contest that year and appeared in various African newspapers.

The Outcome of the Phone

Even with the media coverage, the project did not become a product. Petrus was unable to secure investment or support from the government or companies to move the idea forward.

He continued living with his parents and trying to develop new inventions, now with visibility but without resources.

In 2019, at 21 years old, Simon was still at home, unemployed, and looking for opportunities. In interviews, he stated that the biggest challenge was finding financial support to continue innovating. Nevertheless, he did not give up.

In 2020, he enrolled in the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre, a technical institution in the capital of Namibia. There, he studied Electronic Engineering for three years. Finally, in September 2023, he officially graduated. Another victory in his journey.

Even with the diploma, Simon Petrus continues to face obstacles. By 2025, nearly a decade after his first invention gained prominence, he remains unemployed, trying to make his projects viable independently.

Chronological Summary

September 8, 2023: Simon completed his Electronic Engineering course.
Since 2019: still looking for a job to support and develop his projects.
2025: various social media updates confirm that he continues without a fixed job.

His story has become a symbol of creativity and persistence, but also of how talent can be ignored when support is lacking.

Simon’s SIM-less phone is still a prototype, but his idea continues to inspire young Africans to believe in their own potential.

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In 2015, A Namibian Teen Created A Chipless Phone That Made Calls Via Radio — But 10 Years Later, What Happened To Him Is Surprising

Simon Petrus Became Famous for Creating a Mobile Phone That Makes Calls Without a SIM Card or Credit, But Nearly a Decade Later, He Still Seeks Support to Innovate.

His Story

Major Oil, Gas, and Energy Event Will Take Place in Brazil: Macaé Energy Will Gather Petrobras, Equinor, Prio, Among Other Suppliers and Energy Executives for Business, Networking, and Employment Opportunities

The Outcome of the Phone

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In 2015, A Namibian Teen Created A Chipless Phone That Made Calls Via Radio — But 10 Years Later, What Happened To Him Is Surprising

Simon Petrus Became Famous for Creating a Mobile Phone That Makes Calls Without a SIM Card or Credit, But Nearly a Decade Later, He Still Seeks Support to Innovate.

His Story

Major Oil, Gas, and Energy Event Will Take Place in Brazil: Macaé Energy Will Gather Petrobras, Equinor, Prio, Among Other Suppliers and Energy Executives for Business, Networking, and Employment Opportunities

The Outcome of the Phone

Chronological Summary

At over 8,800 meters above sea level, the summit of Mount Everest is made up of rocks that originated at the bottom of an ocean about 500 million years ago and were pushed to the highest point on Earth by the collision of tectonic plates.

Found in one of the most radioactive places on Earth, this Chernobyl fungus may be doing something with radiation that no one has been able to explain to this day.

The U.S. Army receives the first Black Hawk helicopter that can fly without pilots, be controlled by a tablet, and even land on its own during high-risk missions.

With more than 635,000 doctors, Brazil sees competition increasing in large cities, and recent graduates are competing for shifts at an accelerated pace while the countryside still faces shortages.

What can really trigger large volcanic eruptions? Research suggests that gas returning to the magma may be more dangerous than gas escaping from it.

Goodbye expensive popular car: electric vehicle for less than R$ 70,000 starts being sold in Brazil with a range of 200 km and targets those looking to escape gasoline.

With an investment of R$ 612 million, a capacity to process 1.2 million liters of milk per day, Piracanjuba inaugurates a mega cheese factory that increases national production, reduces dependence on imports, and repositions Brazil on the global dairy map.

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With 74% of companies facing difficulties in hiring, technicians and engineers in renewable energy are becoming scarce in Brazil and are essential to support the expansion of solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects.