TRYNESS MBALE, Lusaka
THE Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) has this year constructed over 100 communication towers in senior chiefs’ areas to take technology to parts of the country lacking such facilities.
ZICTA public relations manager Ngabo Nankonde said as at January 31, the authority has erected 189 towers in 118 senior chiefs’ areas.
“As at January 31, 2015 a total of 189 communication towers have been constructed, with 118 senior chiefs and 47 other chiefs connected. In addition to chiefs, in certain areas the phase one project has also benefited a number of schools and clinics,” Ms Nankonde said in a statement availed to the Daily Mail recently.
She said ZICTA will, in total, construct 204 towers during the project, which will be completed in the first half of this year.
ZICTA conducted feasibility studies on the needs of the unserved areas and a phased approach for the project was adopted. Phase two of the project commences this year.
During the feasibility study most of the unserved and underserved areas were discovered to be in the rural areas and it was resolved that the project should start with construction of towers at senior chiefs’ palaces without telecommunication.
She said the project is still on going and the authority will ensure compliance with contractual obligations including base transceiver station before the handover of the project.
In 2013, ZICTA, in line with its mandate of providing access to information communication technologies for all, embarked on a project to construct communication towers across the country.