The Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati, announced a $280 million plan to permanently resolve telecommunications network failures across the country, linking recent communication outages to the severe 2023–2024 drought and Zambia’s reliance on hydroelectric power.
Responding to a three-week network collapse in the Lumezi constituency, Mutati outlined a three-pronged strategy focused on energy security, national network sharing, and rapid tower deployment. The minister confirmed that outages in areas such as Shibande, Kazembe, and Chitungulu were caused by low power generation from hydro-dependent grids, which left communication towers offline.
The government plans to implement alternative and backup energy solutions nationwide, including hybrid systems combining fuel-generated power, renewable energy, and emergency batteries. A pilot project involving 20 towers is already underway with private sector participation.
Additionally, another pilot project for National Network Roaming is being conducted to allow mobile subscribers to access services through multiple operators, reducing coverage gaps in remote areas. Once validated, this system will be rolled out nationally.
To accelerate network expansion, the government is fast-tracking the construction of 781 new towers, based on a 2022 analysis that identified the need for 998 additional towers. Funding will come from a dedicated line in the 2026 National Budget, moving away from reliance on the Universal Access and Service Fund (UASF), which previously supported only 30 towers per year. The Zambia Digital Acceleration Project (DZAP), supported by the World Bank, will contribute 300 towers to enhance digital inclusion, particularly in rural areas.
Minister Mutati assured citizens that the government remains committed to digital inclusion and will continue collaborating with partners to implement resilient communication infrastructure across Zambia.
Source: Tech Africa News
