Transport and Telecommunications Minister Brian Mushimba has announced that his ministry has been granted approval by Cabinet to introduce a converged licencing framework in the sector.
Mr Mushimba said the new licencing framework will inevitably open up the telecommunications market beyond the current three mobile operators.
He said the new framework will further ensure provision of value for money through improved quality of services in a competitive environment.
Mr Mushimba added that the new licensing framework aims at deepening competition, maximising network utilisation and supporting innovation in the provision of ICT services in Zambia.
He was speaking in Parliament on Tuesday when he presented a ministerial statement on the ICTs and E-Government.
The Minister revealed that the total number of active mobile network subscribers today stands at 12 million representing 75 per cent mobile penetration.
Mr Mushimba also announced that Government has completed the construction of a tier three National Data Centre that will provide local cloud services to the Government and the business community at commercial rates for data storage, management, manipulation and analysis.
He said an ICT Centre of Excellence has also been established to provide relevant ICT training and skills.
“The construction of the data centre is meant for businesses and enterprises not to invest in costly data centres themselves, but pay a reasonable fee for hosting services while they focus on their core business. This data centre is awaiting commissioning,” he announced.
Mr Mushimba also stated that Zambia has continued to witness the rollout of fibre optic throughout the country by the Government and the private sector.
“The country, through the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO), ZAMTEL and CEC Liquid Telecoms, has deployed a combined total of 12,000 km of fibre optic across the country. This has connected more than eighty-six districts to the nearest point of presence. The rolled out fibre has also inter-connected six countries, laying a foundation for Zambia to become a communications hub in the region, which will result in improved quality of communication services and also reduce the cost of communication,” he said.
Mr Mushimba also said that Government is also in the process of establishing a computer assembly plant in the Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) whose main goal will be to assemble desktop computers, laptops and tablets, and to supply smart gadgets to Zambia and the region.
He said this will afford people reasonably priced ICT devices, which are a key enabler to increase citizen participation and inclusiveness in the digital economy.
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Quelle/Source: Lusaka Times, 23.06.2017
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