In
a bid to expand rural mobile communication and fast track digital migration, Zambia's
Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) has advanced plans
to construct 500 communication towers by the end of 2016, ITRealms authoritatively
gathered.
So
far, ZICTA is constructing 169 across the country in order to enable villagers
communicate effectively.
ITRealms
investigations reveal that ZICTA has awarded the project to construct the 169
towers to China’s Huawei Technologies as part of its efforts to increase
communication among Zambia’s rural population.
ZICTA,
ITRealms
gathered, said that by the end of this year, there will be more than 204
communication towers constructed across the country adding that by the end of
2016, the number of towers will reach 500.
Director
General, ZICTA Margaret Mudenda said the project has both financial and
political backing from the Zambian government that wants to see the benefits of
mobile communication reach remote rural areas.
“So
far, 169 have been installed across the country to enable villagers to
communicate effectively. By the end of 2014, there will be 204 towers,” Mudenda
said.
The
towers, ITRealms checks
found, will be shared among the country’s three mobile phone operators—MTN,
Zamtel and Airtel, while the regulatory body will levy the mobile operators.
The
project, ITRealms
reports, is also considered part of the country’s digital migration process as
some of the towers will also be used by radio and television stations to
transmit signals.
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