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Transport, Works Supply & Communications
months. There are over 600, 000 users of internet
services via mobile phones. Furthermore, to enable
the Mobile operators to roll out 3G services Govern-
ment has made a 3G-frequency available. Following
the issuance of a 3G spectrum, operators have al-
ready started rolling out 3G Mobile services. With
the roll out of 3G services a lot more people will
be able to access Internet. At the end of Septem-
ber 2010 Zambian Mobile operators had installed
over 290, 3G Base Transceiver stations.
The growth of Internet penetration has partly been
limited by the high cost of the services. The cost
of Internet services in Zambia and Africa is gener-
ally much higher than the cost of the same service
in either Europe or Asia because of reliance on
Satellite Technology for connectivity.
OPTICAL FIBRE CONNECTIVITY
It is anticipated that the deployment of optical fibre
networks on both sides of the African seaboard and
the subsequent connection with inland fibre net-
works will bring down the cost of ICT services, as us-
age shifts from satellite technology to higher capac-
ity and high quality fibre networks. Zambia by virtue
of its geographical position is a natural regional hub
for ICT in the transition from satellite to optical fibre
connectivity in that it can be able to link countries on
the west to the east, and north to south in the pro-
cess contributing substantial amounts to the national
economy.
In terms of the national fibre infrastructure three
operators namely ZESCO, CEC and ZAMTEL have
optical fibre networks providing the backbone of the
country’s infrastructure. The CEC network covers
Copperbelt towns and is about 540km.
The ZESCO network covers about 1,700 km from Se-
sheke to Lumwana through Livingstone, Lusaka and
the Copperbelt. The ZESCO fibre network has been
interconnected to Namibia at Sesheke and Katima
Mulilo respectively thus enabling access to undersea
cable SAT 3. ZESCO has commenced its phase 2
of the fibre project that will enable Mbala, Mansa,
Mpika, Kasama, Nakonde, Mpulungu, Kawambwa,
Luwingu, Musonda Falls, Chishimba Falls, Lunzua,
Chinsali, Isoka Mongu, Kaoma, Senanga, Kasempa,
Mfuwe, Lusiwasi, Msoro, Katete, Chipata, Mkushi,
Chirundu and Maamba to be interconnected to the
fibre network before the end of 2011. The project
covers an additional fibre distance of 3,000 kilome-
tres. The equipment has already been manufactured
and is expected to start arriving in December 2010.
ZESCO FIBRE NETWORK
The Zamtel network covers about 1,913km. ZESCO
and Zamtel have a signed agreement for collabo-
ration in their fibre networks that aims at avoiding
duplication of resources by combining their efforts
and linking their networks. Arising from this agree-
ment Zamtel and ZESCO are collaborating with their
counterparts in Botswana to interconnect with Bot-
swana at Kazungula to enable Zamtel link into the
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy)
on the eastern coast in which Zamtel has an invest-
ment. The EASSy cable is now operational. It is an-
ticipated that this interconnection to the EASSy un-
dersea cable will be completed in the first quarter of
2011. Once the connection is made it is anticipated
that there will be a new abundance of bandwidth that
will substantially reduce the cost of Internet services
substantially.
POSTAL SERVICES
Zambia is a member of the Pan African Postal Union
(PAPU). Postal services are operated by the Zambia
Postal Services Corporation (ZAMPOST), which has
a countrywide network of post offices, outlets and
sub-post offices.
The government has been constructing and rehabili-
tating Post offices in order to facilitate the provision
of ICT and Postal services in un-served and under-
served areas. Post offices provide an effective distri-
bution channel for ICT products and services to rural
areas. They are regaining the status of being centres
of business transactions such as bill payments and
money transfers and E-post facilities.
Private courier services providers such as DHL, TNT
and Fedex also operate within the country.
MEDIAAND BROADCASTING
The liberalised media industry has experienced ad-
ditional private sector participation and the emer-
gence of new media institutions, with the electronic
media now being dominated by the private sector.
Three television and seven radio stations are owned
and controlled by the private sector.
The state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Cor-
poration (ZNBC) offers two television channels, ZN-
BC-TV and ZNBC-TV2, which broadcasts to major
population centres. Private television broadcasters
are Multi-Choice Zambia, Trinity Broadcasting Net-