Technology and Science Minister Hon. Felix Mutati , says 300 communication towers will be completed by end of 2024 in a bid to increase connectivity and internet penetration.
Mr. Mutati disclosed that communication towers are being constructed by government, mobile phone providers and other private partners.
And Mr. Mutati said the growth of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector by 28 percent and the increase in mobile money transactions to K460 billion in 2023, government wants to increase connectivity further.
Officiating the inaugural ICT Consumer Dialogue Forum in Lusaka, Tuesday, which was organised by the Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), the minister added that the completion of the 300 communication towers will provide Zambians an opportunity to be part of the digital economy and allow citizens access services online.
He said government is working on making online services accessible and then offer digital literacy so that they are protected
Mr. Mutati said scammers and those who perpetuate hate speech must be dealt with.
“Iam urging ZICTA to give government some proposals on how we can make the internet safer,” he said.
And Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) Director General Choolwe Nalubamba said the ICT Consumer Dialogue Forum will discuss the current drought and what can be done and how it is affecting the ICT sector.
Mr. Nalubamba called for collaboration in the sector if challenges being faced can be sorted out.
Meanwhile, Meta Regional Representative Thabo Makenete said the Silicon Valley company has beefed up it’s efforts in fighting fraudsters and hackers.
Mr. Makenete, who addressed the forun virtually, said the company has noted an increase in hackings of Facebook and WhatsApp accounts which usually results in scammers defrauding people of money.
And International Telecommunications Union Regional Director Dr. Emmanuel Manasseh has warned that smart devices can lead to negative effects like gambling and excessive gaming, hence the need for consumer education to make them cautious on the use of such devices.