ZICTA to construct 500 towers by 2016

ITRealms:

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.

Chukwudi Obi

ITREALMS ... delivering news for ICT4D Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs