Felix Mutati
Felix Mutati

ZAMBIA’S ACTIVE INTERNET SUBSCRIPTION STANDS AT 10.3 MILLION – MUTATI

Technology and Science Minister Hon Felix Mutati has revealed that Zambia’s total number of active internet subscriptions increased by 11.8 percent from 9.2 million to at the end of 2019 to 10.3 million at the end of 2020.

Hon Mutati has further indicated that the increase in the total number of active internet subscriptions reflected an improvement in internet penetration from 52.9 percent reported in 2019 to 57.6 percent attained in 2020 which is mainly attributed to higher investments among service providers leading to extensive coverage of 3G and 4G networks.

Hon Mutati who is also UPND Alliance partner, Movement for Democratic Change MDC President however said more needs to be done for internet penetration at household level because the 57.6 percent penetration of internet is at individual level.

And Hon Mutati has called on the corporate world and learning institutions to incorporate up skilling of employees top of their training plans and budgets as the country moves to a world where all efficiencies in all sectors of the economy are centred on ICT innovations.

He said governmrnt also intends to capacitate more of teachers, employees and learners with information communication technology skills as tools to be used for the future economic liberation of the citizens.

Hon Mutati also said noted that improved access to digital technologies and effective use of data and digital systems drives the adoption of transformative technologies that are prerequisites for increased productivity, efficiency and effectiveness.

The minister said he strongly believes that as more individuals, companies and government make use of local solutions and ride the wave of digitalization, today’s innovations will only grow in momentum and strength.

He said backed by robust data centers, the time for Zambia to become the hub for digital transformation has arrived as reliable local data management solutions are now becoming readily available which means that there is no need for businesses to look outside the country but look towards Zambia for all their data storage needs.

The minister was speaking last evening in Lusaka in a speech read for him by Ministry of Technology and Science Assistant Director for Communications and ICT at the launch of the Paratus Zambia privately owned data centre.

© MDC MEDIA TEAM

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