Zambia ICT Sector Performance Review 2010 - Research ICT Africa

Towards Evidence-based ICT Policy and Regulation
Namibia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It will provide terrestrial backhaul links
to connect Zambia to various submarine optic fiber cables on the east and west coasts Africa.
The move to allocate
ZESCO’s optic fiber
assets to ZAMTEL is
likely to reinforce
ZAMTEL dominance of
fixed line infrastructure
However, the completion of ZAMTEL’s network deployment is severely behind schedule due to
financial constraints and its completion will depend on the eventual agreement between the
Government and the new investors. It is partially for this reason that the Government has decided
to enhance “Zamtel’s dowry” before privatization by handing over seven pairs of dark fibre from
ZESCO’s network to ZAMTEL.
The move to allocate ZESCO’s optic-fibre assets to ZAMTEL is likely to reinforce ZAMTEL dominance
of fixed line infrastructure. This scenario has prompted other operators to seek alternative
independent routes to ensure competitive access various submarine cables. This is likely to spur
additional investments in the national backbone.
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