Zamtel 3G technology rollout advances
By Mwila Chansa-Ntambi
Thu 15 Dec. 2011, 13:55 CAT
ZAMTEL says its 3G technology rollout has reached an advanced stage. In a media statement released yesterday, ZAMTEL chief commercial officer Amon Jere stated that 92 3G (third generation) sites had so far been deployed in Lusaka and the Copperbelt while Southern Province was expected to go on air by the end of the year.
"It's a countrywide roll out that will see us deploy 450 new 3G and 2.5G sites and once these go live, our customers will enjoy the fastest mobile broadband in the country with high internet speed downloads for multi-media content," Jere stated.
And Jere has assured ZAMTEL customers that the telecoms company would provide the high speed broadband at affordable rates and provide affordable mobile broadband terminals in all outlets countrywide.
"We want to add value for money for our customers. Our strategy is to provide something for everyone. At ZAMTEL, we do not believe in one size fits all products and services because we understand that people have varying lifestyles and so we endeavor to introduce tailor made offerings to fit individual lifestyles and pockets," Jere stated.
He noted that internet penetration in Zambia was quite low estimated at 3.7 per cent of the population but that the status quo was expected to improve once the 3G mobile internet is launched.
Jere stated that ZAMTEL's network expansion had come in the wake of its increased investment into the mobile network which had seen its customer base grow by 200 percent in 12 months, a development Jere says makes
ZAMTEL Zambia's fastest growing network.
Labels: AMON JERE, ITC, ZAMTEL
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Zamtel ready to help ZNBC digitalise
By Mutale Kapekele
Mon 02 May 2011, 03:59 CAT
ZAMTEL says it is ready to assist the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation digitalise nationwide using its optic fibre network. Last Thursday, ZNBC director general Eddie Mupeso, said the national broadcaster had already started ordering digital-capable equipment that would ensure the signal was completely digital by 2013.
Mupeso, who was touring leased transmission facilities at Zamtel, said his institution would also take advantage of the latter’s optic fibre which has already terminated within the mass media complex to improve the quality of the broadcast signal countrywide.
“We are going to make use of the fibre because we will be building provincial television studios and we hope to use fibre to make sure these facilities are well connected and serviced so that we can send good picture quality to our audience,”
Mupeso said. “In Livingstone for instance, we are sending picture to Lusaka via internet, which is very cumbersome. But once we complete digitalising our facilities, transmission will become child’s play.”
Mupeso also disclosed that ZNBC would receive three mobile studios in the next two weeks from the United Kingdom, which he hoped would ease transmission challenges for events across the country.
At the same event, Zamtel chief commercial officer Amon Jere pledged his company’s continued collaboration with ZNBC by providing the latest technology that would improve the quality of the broadcaster’s signal.
Jere said Zamtel had invested a lot of resources in installing digital transmission enabled equipment and was ready to switch on the national broadcaster’s signal as soon as it was technically ready.
“The cost of running the analogue transmission links is very huge and in most cases, the technology is old and spare parts are hard to find. So when ZNBC is transmitting, sometimes we literally have to ‘babysit’ the equipment to ensure there is no signal failure,” he said.
Zamtel provides transmission leased facilities to the national broadcaster for its signal countrywide.
Labels: AMON JERE, OPTIC FIBRE, ZAMTEL, ZNBC
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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.
Labels: AMON JERE, INTERNET, OPTIC FIBRE, ZAMTEL
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