. Mukanga

By JUDITH NAMUTOWE?

THE Government will soon develop a national broadband strategy aimed at providing affordable broadband services on a competitive basis to Zambian citizens.?

Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister, Yamfwa Mukanga said the Government had prioritised the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) and broadband as it was convinced that ICTs had the potential to bring social and economic development.?

‘‘This is evidenced by the reclassification of the ICT chapter in the Revised Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP) from a mere support sector to an economic sector anchored on expansion of national broadband infrastructure,’’ Mr Mukanga said during the launch of Telplus Company in Lusaka.?

Mr Mukanga said the Government intended to increase access and promote widespread deployment of ICT services through the expansion of the nation’s telecommunications backbone.?

The Government has embarked on the e-governance project which has seen adaptation of new ICT initiatives across Government ministries.?

Mr Mukanga said the Government was in the process of embarking on phase two and three which would cover provinces and districts respectively.?

Telplus Communications Limited has invested more than US$200,000 in setting up the firm in Zambia.?

Telplus is a Zambian firm which was established in 2013, with the primary focus of providing satellite communications solutions, specifically Thuraya, Inmarsat and Iridium satellite communication solutions.?

This equipment allows uninterrupted and excellent connectivity in remote and rural areas, and in locations where connectivity may be unreliable.?

Telplus chief executive officer Chim Malawo expressed gratitude that the company had earned the confidence of some leading players in the world satellite communications.