adminThe last leg was set to see the connection of the transmission link between Bulawayo, to Beitbridge. The Government completed the first phase in April which linked Harare and Bulawayo.
The whole project initially projected to be complete mid this year would have seen the country being connected to the Seacom cable that passes Seacom, a terrestrial high-speed fibre-optic cable that serves the East and West coasts of Africa.
Information Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa conceded that the project has run into problems further delaying connectivity.
“We still hope we will make it,” he told CAJ in an interview.
“We ran into some logistical problems and we now need US$14,5 million to complete the project”.
Minister Chamisa, however, said missing the deadline was not a sign that the Government was no longer committed to the project.
“We are happy with what we have done because we have now linked Harare and Bulawayo and even the progress on the final phase is encouraging in spite of the lack of funds.”
Zimbabwe has been working towards improving connectivity and broadband facilities in the country.
The country is targeting to connect to
the undersea cable to also cut costs on broadband tariffs, seen as among the highest in the region.
The country has been on a massive drive to improve its ICT as this has been identified as having the potential to transform the lives of people.
The Government embarked on the fibre projects to improve broadband services as the existing Mazowe earth satellite link proved to be expensive and had limited capacity.
Last year, TelOne, the Government owned telecommunications company completed the Harare-Mutate link which connects the country to the EASSy submarine cable
through the Maputo landing station in Mozambique that runs across the east coast of Africa.
Africa has emerged as one of the fastest growing markets for ICTs.
It is envisaged that by 2020, Africa will be the largest consumer of broadband Internet and ICT will contribute US$1,4 billion to the continent’s Gross Domestic Product. — CAJ News.
Online Reporter