TAX WAIVER SECURES $54 MILLION ICT INVESTMENT
The recent announcement by Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati of an investment exceeding $54 million in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector highlights President Hakainde Hichilema’s commitment to achieving 80% digital inclusion by 2026.
Hon. Mutati also revealed plans to connect Zambia via optic fiber to all its eight neighboring countries.
This initiative aligns with President Hichilema’s vision of creating equal opportunities for all Zambians to participate in the emerging digital economy.
President Hichilema aims for 80% of Zambia’s population aged 10 and above to have Internet access at the ward level, with 20% actively using it by 2026.
To support this, the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) and the Ministry of Technology and Science have facilitated tax waivers on ICT equipment and gadgets, encouraging private sector involvement in achieving the digital inclusion target.
Digital inclusion is a priority for President Hichilema, who believes investing in this sector will ensure all Zambians have access to affordable, high-quality Internet, enabling active participation in the digital economy.
The PDU and relevant ministries are developing last-mile infrastructure to ensure connectivity, using the national fiber network to reach underserved districts, especially in rural areas.
The PDU and its partners are also working to optimize middle-mile infrastructure, utilizing government-owned assets under Fibrecom and Infratel.
Minister Mutati informed a COMESA delegation that Zambia’s digital infrastructure had significantly expanded.
Satellite internet provider Starlink increased its presence from 100 kits in 2023 to 11,000 kits this year, enhancing connectivity.
Zambia has installed high capacity optic fiber cables to seven of it's neighbours, with Mozambique next in line to cover them all.
Additionally, 379 communication towers will be constructed nationwide to improve phone network access.
COMESA Director for Information and Communication Technology Lanka Dorby mentioned that the delegation is in Zambia to assess the feasibility of establishing the Cloud Africa Ecosystem headquarters in the country.
Zambia is among 10 high-performing African nations in the ICT sector being considered for this project, which will host African data and provide industry information.
The African Development Bank funds this initiative, with a headquarters and a backup data center planned for two different countries.
The New Dawn Government has made significant strides in Technology and Innovation, including the launch of Zambia's first 5G network in November 2022 by MTN and Huawei, and the introduction of Starlink services.
In November 2023, Liquid Telecom announced the rollout of connectivity to an initial 450 STEM schools, supporting the Government’s plan to connect 1,291 secondary schools to the internet.