Chronicle Editor
Sikhulekelani Moyo, Business Reporter
LISTED telecoms giant, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, has pledged enhanced partnership with the Government in a bid to scale up digital network connectivity in rural communities and help foster inclusivity.
With more businesses embracing electronic transactions, the company says there is a need to increase digital connectivity in rural areas, where only less than 20 percent are capable of accessing LTE or 4G network.
Digitalisation has proved to have a significant impact on daily living. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic the ways of doing business transactions have changed, communication and daily social habits have become strongly reliant on digital technology.
In a trading update for the first quarter ended 31 May 2021, Econet Group secretary, Mr Charles Banda, said the company’s journey to full digital transformation was gathering momentum with focus on rural communities as well.
“The rural population remains marginalised in terms of full access to digital services with less than 20 percent of devices in the country being LTE/4G capable,” said Mr Banda.
“The group, with the support of the authorities, would like to tackle this challenge to ensure that digital inclusivity is achieved across all sectors of our society.” Through a supportive policy framework and deliberate Information Communication Technologies (ICT) infrastructure development through the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Potraz), the Government has been on the forefront in driving investments towards a sound digital economy in line with the targets set out in the National Development Strategy (NDS1), a five-year economic blueprint that spans from 2021 to 2025.
Early this year, Potraz revealed plans to set up 800 computer laboratories and provide 1 500 internet connectivity to rural schools as part of the Government efforts to ensure easy access of ICTs.
The ICT gadgets will further boost the Second Republic’s efforts to bridge the urban-rural divide while cushioning communities that have been suffering due to the effects of the Covid-19 that saw learning being conducted online. – @SikhulekelaniM1.
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