Government and the Private Sector are constructing 520 communication towers countrywide with a target of reaching 96 percent phone and internet coverage by end of 2025.
Technology and Science Minister Hon. Felix Mutati says government is constructing 340 communication towers while the private sector is constructing an addition of 180 towers.
Mr. Mutati says once the 520 towers are fully operational, they will increase the number of communication towers to 900 across the country.
Speaking at Kabanga Primary School in Itezhi-Tezhi District in Southern Province when he commissioned a communication tower, Mr. Mutati said the construction of communication towers is aimed at helping Zambians utilise online services being offered by government.
He said services such as the Farmer Input Support Program -FISP, Social Cash Transfer and others are easily accessible on the internet using a phone.
“Here in Kabanga, we know you are cattle farmers and we want you to have easy access to the market and buyers using phones. We have brought this tower so that we can help you do business on your phones, ” he said.
Mr. Mutati also announced that some communication towers which have 2G network in Itezhi-Tezhi will be upgraded to 4G so that they can provide internet services to the locals.
And Technology and Science Permanent Secretary Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu said his Ministry is working with Members of Parliament to identify places which need connection to phone services.
Dr. Habeenzu said Members of Parliament know their areas well and are submitting names of places which are to be prioritised for connectivity.
And Itezhi-Tezhi Member of Parliament Twaambo Mutinta said the construction of the Kabanga Communication Tower will help the locals who had been climbing trees and hills to access phone network.
Mr. Mutinta says Itezhi-Tezhi District is the least connected when it comes to phone and internet services in the whole of Southern Province.
He disclosed that the district has 10 communication towers out of which seven are functional and only two offer 4G network.
“The coming of this tower will help our 30,000 farmers access FISP, our 41,000 pupils to learn ICT and our 6,000 elderly people access social cash transfer, ” said Mr. Mutinta.
He said phone network helps poor people have access to various services.
Mr. Mutinta asked the Ministry to consider constructing more towers in areas where there is no phone network to increase connectivity.
Meanwhile, Chief Chilyabufu of the Ila people thanked government for connecting his chiefdom to phone network.
Chief Chilyabufu asked government to also build roads in his area which he says are in a deplorable state.
