Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa has today launched the trial of free WiFi project in Lusaka.
This is in line with Mr Sampa’s pre election promise of delivering free WiFi for the city in his 100 days in office.
Speaking during the launch ceremony at the Civics Centre this morning, Mr. Sampa disclosed that the WiFi has been installed at the Lusaka City Council Revenue Hall on a three month trial basis.
Mr Sampa has disclosed that the council is engaging internet service providers who wish to provide the free WiFi to the residents of Lusaka.
He said an open tender will be advertised after the trial period upon which the best companies will be selected to partner with the local authority to manage the project.
Mr. Sampa has also disclosed that the free WiFi will be installed at InterCity and other markets such as City and Kabwata Markets.
“When we promised during our campaigns that we will provide free WiFi, a lot of people launched and said it cannot be done. We are here and today is just day 10 of being in Office and we have fulfilled our promise. We still have 90 more days to go. For us, we don’t believe in it can’t. We believe everything is possible,” Mr Sampa said.
Mr Sampa has also warned that the Council will install software that will block users from accessing pornography and other illicit content on the internet using the free Wifi.
He revealed that a local IT firm called Techmate Systems Limited has agreed to provide free WiFi in the Revenue Hall on a trial basis.
And Techmate Systems Limited Director Chilufya Musosha explained that his firm is using a simple model which involves getting bandwidth from internet service providers and asking for advertisers to place adverts on the internet targeting the users.
Mr Musosha said the adverts are then used to offset the cost of providing the bandwidth.
He said his company is pleased that the Council agreed to partner with it in piloting the project and assured that it will provide good services.
Let’s hope it works with good speed.
Also interested to know how they will charge the 0.3 kwacha on this one as it is free. This make endanger jobs for those in internet business.
He also signed for the Eurobond!
As the saying goes…
“One swallow does not make a summer”
Nonetheless, this is a step in right direction. A glimmer of hope dare I say?
Those that can get to these places might be able to avoid the silly tax imposed by this lame government.
Well done Miles.
Keep going, you are now on your ninth life, use it wisely.
Credit where its due, you have my thumb up! for taking this first step.
Continue working on your list, and you win support for taking action.
Let’s get this right is it free WiFi for LCC premises or the whole City of Lusaka??
Shear stupidity. If these guys can afford to give free WiFi why are they snatching 30 ngwees from the poor.
When will Zambia’s wake up?
There is nothing for free in a business environment. Advertisers will pay for the adverts and when you buy their products, you pay for their advert costs. Businesses always get their money back at a profit.
Let us not cheat ourselves. We have seen free WiFi being offered at Airports, Malls etc in other countries but these are countries which have tackled, to a great extent, the basic needs of their people. Is this a priority for a mayor running a city without trading places, good sanitation, untold joblessness, crime etc?
I do not think so. Moreover, while some are taxing this technology, others are offering it free (for who pays the tax for it?), same govt.
Free WiFi? I hope it is usable. Most Lodges have free WiFi for their Guests but good luck browsing. It is usually dead slow. Now I wonder how fast the Free WiFi from the same providers will be. I have been to many places including Provincial Admin Offices and the WiFi is just in name. I am usually forced to use my MTN Bundles cos theirs almost always tells me: “Page cannot be displayed”.
If this works, then thank you, Mr Mayor.
Is Whatsapp calling supported on the free WiFi?
Yes.
All Apps are supported. But this government will try to find ways to tax you on these free wifi spots.
Use devices that do not require SIM cards. For example, IPAD, IPOD etc. etc.
So what time is this site going to make headline of Bowman Lusambo harassing a police woman doing her duties.
just prepare the comment for Bowman Lusambo. The moment you see it, be the first to comment 🙂
You call that harassment when someone is getting free money from docile motorists who cannot demand for receipts.
I witnessed another illegal police check point between Lusaka and Chongwe on 28th July 2018, and people were dishing out money uncontrollably without receipts.
The four cops actually made K2,250 in two hours of mounting the roadblock. Traffic cops are happy cops.
DONT LIE PEOPLE , U WOULD NOT HAVE MANAGED TO PRIVIDE THE FREE WIFI IN LUSAKA IF IT WAS NOT FOR THAT LUSAKA BASED COMPANY TO COME ON THE BAND WAGON . THE COMPANY KNOWS THAT THEY WILL BENEFIT SOMEHOW THROUGH THE ADVISERTMENTS . U DID NOT EVEN HAVE ANY PROGRAMATIC PLANS OF HOW U WERE GOING TO UNDERTAKE THAT PROJECT SO DONT LIE TO THE PEOPLE AS IF YOU DOING YOUR CAMPIGN PROMISES . REMEMBER WHEN U WERE ASKED A QUASTION ON TV PROGRAM OF YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISES , YOU NEVER MENTIONED THAT U HAVE ENGAGED A LUSAKA BASED TECH CAMPANY TO UNDERTAKE THE PROJECT .
It does not matter how the project is managed.
As long as residents get free WIFI.
Advertising is a good way to effect these projects.
You have free WIFI and you are still complaining?
Give credit where it is due please.
Let us make sure Miles extends this service to as many places as possible in Lusaka.
Good job by the Mayor, for those that know Miles personally know that he is a Man of action with a heart for the people. Don’t be discouraged by those who instead of encouraging want to pull you down. May God continue to lay a table before you on the midst of your enemies.
Iwe Worship Sampa, mwaice you are contradicting what Cabinet directed on monday, which is disregard and disrespect for cabinet. You are lucky the only intelligent man in Zambia, the one who rules by DIRECTIVES to his less intelligent ministers, is ouf of the country at tgs moment. But Namibia is not far, so enjoy your shortlived freedom of internet.
Failure highlighted already, he mentioned many other areas other than the Revenue Hall. city and inter-city. Simply monitoring the developments.
Good luck!
Provide free internet for a whole area e.g. matero, not a room…
Ok…..better than nothing….good start.
Cleaning up Lusaka should be a priority.
I love this idea knowing the role ICT is playing in developing and developed countries to hence that economic drive. But really don’t you think we’ve more pressing issues as a city{LUSAKA} from how councils are run, drainage’s, clinics, garbage collection, street lights, street kids, water sanitation, etc?????????????
He should have started with the “high-rise graves”
Whats the password
Try Jameson.
If not, try Swazi_Mansion.
If not, try Fire_Tender.
If not, try Humble_Thief.
If not, try Rogue_R_US.
The 30n will service this free Wi-Fi.
Thanks thats a good start we appreciate ,more things to be worked on my God bless you .
Of course the new tariff will support those free spots. Ni sangwapo manje but at least elected officials will start to keep their promises through the many taxes and tariffs that are cropping up. Next ni ma ujeni – ma flowers outside houses from withholding tax – to keep Lusaka clean kaili!
Get Lusaka cleaned up and drains emptied before the rainy season please. Start with health matters instead of entaertainment
Don’t worry once bowman visits the LCC revenue hall and finds all staff members on Facebook instead of serving clients then he will put a stop to this.
It’s free WiFi to access Lusaka city council web contents. It’s not a new concept, most developed countries city council or shopping malls provide such service.
I was wondering wer the money for this will be coming from but I figured the social media tax will pay for what they want to call free…. No free lunch bane #taxzambia
Sampa is smart, the dude has merely extended Lusaka city council’s internet to the public and people are worshipping him. I hope it’s fully secured because he might have opened up the city’s network to cyber attacks. This WiFi is not free but paid for by taxpayers unless providers volunteer to provide it.
Hatribes Union Zambia Ltd.
Juice given! We are enemies of laziness and corruption but friends of delivery. Increase your time in the sun sir
The negative energy is tangible. It must be like witchcraft, can you feel it? that negative energy is called UPND. A mixture of hate, hopelessness and disappointment in good. SHAME
One Zambian let’s be honest and not lie to ourselves. The man has no ability to provide free WiFi, you hear him clearly begging companies with infrastructure to help.The free WiFi is not from miles but the council’s. Even you can do that by simply enabling guest on your router. Pretty soon you going to hear about tax to cover that WiFi.
A good deed indeed Mayor Sampa. Keep rolling more welcome services to the citizenry. And ignore those that don’t appreciate any good thing in life.
Tom learn to read and understand. The free wifi that you will be enjoying will be paid for by who ever will be placing adverts on that platform. Dont misslead the masses by your ignorance.