Telecom giant to invest $15 million in fibre optic network across Zambia

folarin okunola

April 27, 2016 4:11 PM

According to MTN, the investments are geared towards improving internet access across the country.

Phuthuma Nhleko (L), CEO of MTN group, addresses a news conference in a file photo. REUTERS/Aladin Abdel Naby

Media reports have confirmed that South Africa-based telecoms giant MTN has announced an investment of about US$15 million in its optic fibre network across Zambia. According to MTN, the investments are geared towards improving internet access across the country.

MTN revealed that it has invested $10 million in optic fibre installation that will run from Nakonde to Tanzania while the remaining $5 million has been set aside to finance the fiber optic cable that will run from Chingola to Kalumbila Mine in the North-Western Province.

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Speaking on the development, senior manager for network performance and service level agreement, Chisanga Kaziya, said MTN decided to build its own fibre infrastructure to avoid spending colossal sums of money by transmitting data through neighbouring countries.

Right now, MTN Zambia connects through three different points namely, Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania to EassyCable Windhoek in Namibia, to access the West Africa Cable System and through Zimbabwe to South Africa, to access the SEACOM cable to provide the required services for its customers.

Kaziya said MTN Zambia was building the fibre optic cable network within the country to ensure that it is connected to Tanzania in the first phase whilst using its fibre to provide the needed capacity to its customers.

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