169 telecommunication towers constructed and installed countrywide

Government has completed phase one of the construction and installation of 169 telecommunication towers in various chiefdoms across the country.

The project which cost government a sum of US24 million with a view to boosting coverage in underserved rural regions was completed in the second week of October 2014.

Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Deputy Minister Panji Kaunda said the towers will be commissioned after the state funeral of late President Michael Sata.

Colonel Kaunda said government had initially planned to commission the towers towards the month end of October but the date coincided with the death of President Sata.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that all the telecommunication towers are working and providing mobile phone network to the rural population which had challenges in accessing mobile telecommunication services.

Col. Kaunda stated that most rural parts of the country should have access to a mobile network, with more than 200,000 people expected to benefit from the project.

He said all three telecommunication service providers in the country, MTN, Airtel and Zamtel Mobile will be connected to the new towers, with each set to pay the Zambia Information and Communications Authority (ZICTA) for using the infrastructure.

Col. Kaunda said the commissioning of the 169 towers will be announced after the burial of the late former Head of State.

He also disclosed that phase two of the project will commence in the first quarter of 2015.