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Zambia’s internet connectivity levels have moved upwards to 58 percent this year from around 53 percent last year, authorities have said.
Technology and Science Minister, Felix Mutati, stated that this follows the appropriate incentives and tax concessions for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.
Mutati said this during the inaugural Information, Communications and Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services awards on Friday evening.
He noted that the tax incentives were aimed at providing a conducive business environment, which had enabled the ICT sector to invest in digital infrastructure.
Mutati noted that this had now enabled Zambia to be among the most connected country in Africa by fibre network.
“I remain hopeful that Beeline, which is a Zambian majority owned company will take advantage of several efforts by government to establish an enabling environment for them to commence operations within reasonable timelines, as committed,” he said.
The Minister commended the sector for delivering increased internet in Zambia from around 53 percent to 58 percent in 2023.
He stated that Zambia was among 13 countries in Africa that had been able to deliver 5G internet and among the 10 countries across the continent to have Starlink internet deployed.
Mutati said going forward, government was taking up proactive steps to eliminate 2G internet because its desire going forward was to have all communication towers enabled with 4G internet.
“We are eliminating 2G because we want all towers to be internet enabled. Every tower from now on will only be 4G and upwards internet enabled. We have a duty to use ICT as an enabler to deliver change to the people of Zambia,” he said.
Mutati also disclosed that Zambia’s Postal and Courier Service business had gone up by 70 percent this year.
He said as a result, the country was now able to create jobs and new enterprises that never existed before and that this was attributed to the appropriate incentives and tax concessions provided through this year’s national budget.
“Government is committee to ensuring that it continues to attract and retain investments into the ICT sector. This is premised on its intention to facilitate growth in the sector as well as create the needed jobs for the Zambian people,” Mutati added.
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