Construction of communication towers in chiefdoms commences in two months

The Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) says the actual construction and installation of telecommunication towers in chiefdoms across the country will commence between February and March this year.

ZICTA Director General, Margaret Mudenda, says the equipments for the roll out of phase one of the project, which includes construction of 169 towers, have already started been supplied.

Mrs Mudenda told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the equipments are coming in bunches with the last bunch for phase one of the exercise being expected in the country next month.

He said ZICTA has already done the site surveys and as soon as all the equipments are in the country, the actual construction of the towers in chiefdoms will begin.

Mrs Mudenda said phase one of the exercise will be completed this year while the remaining phase will be done thereafter.

And the ZICTA Director General said registration of SIM cards during the extended period of the exercise is progressing well.

Mrs Mudenda said the response from mobile service subscribers has been overwhelming, saying mobile service providers have managed to register a considerable number of subscribers.

She urged those that have not yet registered their SIM cards to do so now to avoid last ditch registration in order to avoid losing their numbers.

Meanwhile, Mrs Mudenda says ZICTA’s programme of connecting computer labs with internet for learning institutions is going on smoothly.

She said the authority has spared no effort to ensure as many tertiary learning institutions as possible are connected with internet in order to make access to information for students readily available.

Mrs Mudenda said education is key in propelling socio-economic development in the country and that ZICTA will play its part to ensure quality education is attained in order to fulfil Government mandate.