Zamtel to invest K600bn in Internet access

Zamtel to invest K600bn in Internet access
By Florence Bupe
Fri 19 Nov. 2010, 04:01 CAT

ZAMTEL is investing K600 billion into new technology to enh-ance the country’s Internet access and capacity, company chief commercial officer Amon Jere has disclosed.

Addressing trainee journalists at Post Newspapers on Wednesday, Jere acknowledged that Zambia’s Internet penetration rate had remained among the lowest globally and pledged Zamtel’s commitment to ensuring a reversal of the situation.

“Although some reports have indicated that Internet penetration rates stand at about 6.3 per cent of the Zambian population, it is in actual fact just about two to three per cent. As Zamtel, we want to take the lead in providing faster, more affordable Internet services and we are working with other countries in the region to install optic fibre technology,” he said.

Jere disclosed that Zamtel was partnering with Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania to lay optic fibre cables for enhanced technological growth.

He further explained that Zamtel was working with Zesco to integrate the two organisations’ optic fibre installations.

Jere also explained that Zamtel would strive to increase Internet access for Zambians through the provision of the service on fixed phone lines.

“We are trying to ensure that all landlines have fixed broadband Internet. This will help us create more access,” Jere said. “We also expect to roll out 3G (third generation) technology by January next year.”

However, Jere echoed sentiments of many other stakeholders that the cost of Internet services in Zambia had remained high due to a number of factors such as the cost of computers.

And Jere said Zamtel was in the process of recovering the K200 billion owed to the institution by various clients.

“We are engaging government to try and recover the huge debt that is owed, and a number of ministries are starting to pay their bills. Zamtel was owed K200 billion by various organisations and we have instituted a team to try and recover the monies,” he said.

Jere said as a means of improving the management of revenue, the company was encouraging the use of pre-paid service facilities.

“If you came to us now and asked for a landline, we will most likely put you on pre-paid. In fact, some government ministries have taken the responsibility of asking for pre-paid landlines to avoid accumulating debt,” said Jere.