Transport and Communications Minister Brian Mushimba says government is about to complete the construction of communication towers across the country ahead of schedule.
Mr. Mushimba says 400 hundred communication towers will be erected this year in addition to over 600 that were erected last year.
He said this would translate to about 96 percent of bringing the universal coverage of both internet and communication facilities to Zambians.
Mr. Mushimba said the project which was supposed to be completed in three years will be completed before schedule as government expected to build over 1000 communication towers at the end of the year out of a total of one thousand and nine towers(1,009) that were expected to be completed in three years.
He said the project is expected to cost over $280 million dollars, adding that some funds would be sourced from the universal access funds to complete the last mile of the project.
Mr. Mushimba noted that the universal coverage of both internet and telephone will enhance communication facilities and meet the needs among citizens.
He added that government is in the process of introducing regulations in the deployment of ICT infrastructure in order to bring order in the sector.
Mr. Mushimba expressed concern that currently, there is disorder among service providers in terms of deployment of ICT infrastructure.
Mr. Mushimba is admitted to Awryp hospital were he is recuperating after the traffic accident, along Thabo Mbeki road.
This is contained in a statement issued by Naomi Nyawali, the First Secretary Press and Public Relations, Zambia’s High Commission, South Africa.
So if project is US $ 280 million , it means per tower it is costing US $280,000.00
I smell another overpriced project here. There is money to be spent.
Shhht!. A guy in hospital still continues with his crappy promises?
Who is going to fix the GRZ vehicle Mushimba see at 1 am?
Mr Max, Sir, how much can you quote for one tower?
Max – take into account that this is an EXIM bank loan and the towers are poor quality Chink towers which are inflated.
Me I’m quoting $700,000 per tower if 400 towers are earmarked for construction from the $280m according to what we have been told
Very impressive and inspiring. Working while admitted in the hospital. We need more leaders in Zambia like Mr. Mushimba. Bravo
Doesn’t he have a deputy
How does this inspire you?? Why is he in hospital in the first place…
Were you drunk in the accident over the weekend sir? All indications point to that. Did RTSA breathilize you? You should have demanded for that as transport minister.
Costly towers bwana Mushimba , shouldn’t the roll out & costs of such towers be the preserve of the private telecom companies operating in Zambia?
Speaking from his hospital bed you mean? Means the evacuation was not necessary, could have been recuperating in a Vip ward at Levy, UTH, or CfB, or even in his bedroom at his mansion.
Anyway glory be to God that he is alive. I only hope his head was shaken sufficiently to release the costly folly of Zambian airways.
According to Hon Chitotela, can EIZ please advise on the correct cost of these communication towers, or confirm that the current cost is correct, or tell us that the figures are typing errors?
Zambia is ahead of three quarters of African countries in connecting the whole country to internet.
It seems this government has now signed a contract with Awryp hospital? What happened to Morningside hospital? Did they start refusing to admit Zambian patients?
Awryp hospital is in Kempton Park near OR Tambo airport. This trend from other facilities such as Morningside and Milpark started with the arrival of his excellence the High Commissioner E. Mwamba. I am sure it’s a well thought out strategy. Shorter distance to transport patients from airport.