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Business Reporter
TELONE has commissioned its fibre optic transmission link between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls in what will be a major boost for the tourist resort ahead of its co-hosting the United Nations World Tourism Organization General Assembly later this month. The investment by State owned Tel-One will result in low cost, faster and reliable broadband connectivity from any location through Wi-Fi hot spots established in and around the city.
Completion of the project comes slightly over a fortnight before Zimbabwe and Zambia co-host the 20th session of the UNWTO event from the 23rd to 29th of this month.
The transmission link was commissioned on Wednesday at an event attended by outgoing ministers of Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development Nicholas Goche.
Tel-One modernised the Bulawayo to Victoria Fall transmission route by replacing the old radio system with a high capacity internet protocol microwave radio 622Mbps capacity.
The company also commissioned fibre to the buildings broadband network infrastructure for the UNWTO General Assembly as well as current and future needs of the city.
Speaking during commissioning of the transmission link the minister said creating a Cyber City before the UNWTO event had begun to materialise. He said the project ushered in a new era of fast, reliable and affordable broadband internet services to the city.
“Internet will no longer be considered a luxury but an essential for the future growth and development of this town. Tel·One has made sterling efforts to improve connectivity and has connected all major hotel and lodges via optic fibre,” Minister Goche said.
Outgoing Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Engineer Walter Mzembi also attended the event together with other high profile dignitaries from public and private sectors.
Deputy board chairperson Engineer Charles Shamu said Tel-One invested in Victoria Falls to retell the story of Zimbabwe through successful paperless UNWTO General Assembly.
“As the country prepared to host the UNWTO General Assembly Tel-One recognised the needs of this town and the potential offered by broadband connectivity in Victoria Falls,” he said.
Eng. Shamu said the transmission link was meant to fulfill Government’s vision to have a digitalised Zimbabwe and to endorse Victoria Falls as Zimbabwe’s first Cyber City.
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