Message Lun 30 Nov 2009 13:30

Realtime launches Metropolitan optic fibre

REALTIME Zambia (RTZ) and Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) have launched the Lusaka Metropolitan Optic Fibre Network with US$4 million investment.

And Government says the private sector must expand their internet service to rural areas to help stimulate development and create a market for services.

Minister of Transport and Communications Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa said information and communication technology (ICT) development in Zambia is still in its infancy and most communication solutions are concentrated in urban areas, hence the need for extension of such services to rural areas.

Prof Lungwangwa said investment in ICTs, especially the optic fiber infrastructure will accelerate developments such as e-commerce, e-banking, e-health, e-learning, e-agriculture and e-governance.
Prof Lungwangwa was speaking at the launch of the Lusaka metropolitan optic fibre on Friday night at Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka.

The launch of the network is expected to cover Lusaka and other parts of the country including Kazungula.
Prof Lungwangwa urged corporate entities to take advantage of the network link via fibre to the region and the rest of the world through interconnection with other networks locally and abroad.

He, however, said that the challenge is for all the actors in the ICT sector to use the conducive policy environment and invest in the sector.

“As Government we want to see more jobs being created by the ICT sector through companies’ investment and creation of a conducive business environment,” he said.

He said through investment in the communication industry, Zambia will be better placed in joining the rest of the world in the development of electronic communication solutions resulting in job creation and enhanced training skills.

The international fiber internet gateway runs from RTZ offices through to Southern Zambia, Namibia and South Africa through the undersea cable and links with the London internet exchange.

RTZ has been operational for nine years and since establishing its presence in Zambia, the company has been implementing several large-scale information communication technology projects and providing network support for corporate and non-governmental organisations.

In December 2005, the company was appointed as last mile service provider by Copperbelt Energy Corporation for their optic fibre network that links eight towns on the Copperbelt.

In March 2009, a joint venture was signed between RTZ and CEC.
Earlier, RTZ sales and marketing director Mark Townsend said the metropolitan fiber network with Zesco and CEC’s backbone will provide a platform to offer clients fiber networks locally and internationally.

Mr Townsend said the first phase of the fiber project focused on laying the fibre network within the central business district and industrial areas of 16 districts and cities.

RTZ products and services include point-to-point leased fibre circuits, internationally leased fiber circuits, broadband internet via fiber or V-SAT, wide area network solutions to connect offices in Lusaka, Copperbelt and Livingstone.