Movement for Democratic Change President Felix Chipota Mutati Lusaka Thursday 21st January, 2021 Derrick Sinjela
ZICTA equipment upgrade on course, prods Felix Chipota Mutati
Rainbow News
Thursday, 1st December, 2022
Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) is in the process of upgrading its equipment for monitoring provision of quality telecommunication connectivity in Zambia in view of complaints of poor service provision by the three main telecommunication companies in the country.
Minister of Technology and Science Felix Chipota Mutati says this is in order that ZICTA does comprehensive quality of service checks of the availability of connectivity in real time with accuracy.
Mr. Mutati has warned that, with such upgraded equipment, any telecommunication service provider that does not comply with the quality of service guidelines, will be sanctioned by ZICTA as provided for in the quality of service guidelines.
Mutati states that Government, through his Ministry, wants to ensure that value added services, such as Mobile Money, FISP and Social Cash Transfer, are available even in rural areas.
Mr. Mutati said this in Parliament, in a ministerial statement delivered on his behalf by his Finance counterpart, Situmbeko Musokotwane.
The Ministerial statement followed recent concerns raised by Chama North lawmaker, Yotum Mtayachalo, who alleged in the House that one of the wards in his constituency had been experiencing connectivity challenges which lead to farmers failing to access farming inputs for a period of two weeks.
The Minister of Technology and Science however told the House that his Ministry had already engaged Zamtel, which is the main telecommunication company available in the area, and that the alleged disrupted connectivity challenges have since been resolved.
And Mutati has disclosed to his fellow lawmakers that he has directed ZICTA to continue with the undertaking of comprehensive quality of service checks in real time in order to ensure availability of quality of service of telecommunication connectivity.
Mutati adds that government, on its part, will also continue to construct more telecommunication towers and upgrade already existing towers.
