$155,6m released for NetOne project

Oliver Kazunga, Senior Business Reporter
ABOUT $155,6 million has so far been disbursed to NetOne for the implementation of the firm’s Phase II National Network Broadband project.

The State-owned telecommunications network operator’s National Network Broadband programme is being funded under the China Exim Bank loan facility.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa has reported that NetOne’s Phase II national network broadband project is still underway since its commencement in 2014.

The first phase of the project began in 2010 and was completed in 2013 at a cost of about $45 million.

“Progress is being made in the implementation of Phase II of the Net-One National Network Broadband Project currently underway. To date, $155,6 million has been disbursed to the project,” said the minister in his mid-term fiscal policy statement last week.

Among other achievements, Minister Chinamasa indicated that progress had been made in installing mobile soft-switch and media gateway with capacity of four million subscribers as well as upgrading of the packet core network to support 4G technology.

“On the wireless network, 2 003 second and third generation base stations (2G/3G) have been delivered, against a target of 2 236. On civil works, 89 pine tree towers have been delivered, against a target of 100,” he said.

To ensure uninterrupted power supply, he said 430 diesel engine generators have been delivered against a target of 500 while two rectifiers for Bulawayo and Harare switching centres have also been delivered.

@okazunga.