COMMUNICATION
plays a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of any country because
it integrates society where people and resources are able to meet their
potential.
Over the years,
the sector had provided climatic weather information to the key sectors of the
economy all over because of communications.
Similarly,
the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sub sector is gaining
prominence with the rapid technological advancements that have spilled over
world-wide since the 1990s.
Infact, ICT is
one of the fastest growing industries in the world and is changing
technologies, business models and work relation as it was widely regarded as
the fourth factor of production after land, labour and capital.
The
Government has recognised that fact and focuses at three levels namely
connectivity, capacity and content. Prior to the 1990s, the sub sector only
covered communications in its traditional sense which included
telecommunications and postal services. However, the convergence of
technologies has drastically changed the landscape of the communications
industry worldwide.
Since the early
1990s, developments in telecommunications and information technology such as
computer science and broadcasting have improved and over-lapped such that the
two have converged through internet.
The
core sub-sectors are telecommunications, information technology, broadcasting
and multimedia which include newspapers, magazines, brochures and mobile phones
have become an important component of communications.
From mid 1990s,
the telecommunications sub-sector in Zambia was characterised by one monopoly
firm which was the Post and Telecommunication Corporation (PTC).
Four years later,
the sector was liberalised as part of encouraging private sector participation
in the provision of telecommunications and postal services.
It was at this
point that PTC was split into two public companies namely Zambia Postal
Services Corporation (ZAMPOST) and the Zambia Telecommunication Company Limited
(ZAMTEL.
The
liberalisation of the telecommunications sub sector opened up opportunities for
investment in the communication sector. The communication sector recorded an increase
in local and foreign investments which is referred to as Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) since the liberation programme began.
Currently, there
are three operators in the mobile phones namely Airtel formerly Celtel, MTN
formerly Telecel and Cell Z. In the 21st Century, mobile phones have
a reflective impact on the way people in the communities live.
According to ICT
sector statistics for performance of mobile voice market in 2000 it was 49,957
while by December 2011 it stood at 8,164,553. The power of mobile phones has
transformed the modern landscape thereby defeating the problem of distance.
The ICT sector
has become competitive in the provision of services and the benefits of
competition as could be seen through reduction in tariffs for services and
innovative value added services.
Of late the
internet segment has attracted more private sector participation compared to
mobile segment.
Despite the
availability of the mobile phones, it was still difficult for some people to
communicate to their loved ones due to poor network coverage in some areas of
the country such as the newly created Vubwi District, Mwanya, Kazembe,
Chitungulu in Lundazi District among other parts of Eastern Province as most of
the areas are not on the mobile phone network.
According to
Vubwi Member of Parliament Eustarckio Kazonga, some residents were still using
the Malawian network areas such as Zozwe, Mlawe, Chimphanje and Chisiya wards.
Dr Kazonga said
this was making communication either difficult or expensive to the residents of
Vubwi District.
“Therefore, we
need communication towers in Zozwe, Khumba, Kabvumo, Mwangazi, Chisiya, Mlawe
and part of Ambidzi ward respectively to improve communication in the area, “he
said.
Zambia
Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) Under Section Four
of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Act No. 15 of 2009 has
promised to effectively provide regulatory services to the ICT sector in order
to enhance Universal Access to the ICT services.
President Michael
Sata is on record as having said that education, skills development and science
and technology were the key to improving the productivity of the people and
facilitating national development.
On
September 21st last year, during the official opening of the second session of
the 11th National Assembly, President Sata said the Government was
working on the Higher Education Authority Bill so as to augment the national
qualification framework.
He said his
Government appreciates the initiatives taken by the private sector to establish
universities and other tertiary institutions of learning in Zambia.
The establishment
of the private and other tertiary institutions of learning was part of
enhancing ICT as most institutions would be equipped by computers fully
connected to the internet.
As part of
regulating network service providers in Zambia like in other countries across
Africa and overseas, ZICTA through Section Six of the Act empowers the
regulator to be regulating the provision of electronic communication services,
products and monitor the performance of the sector including the levels of
investment as well as the availability, quality, cost and standards of the
electronic communication services.
This is in
compliance with the Information Communication Technologies (ICT) Act No.15 of
2009 and the Statutory Instrument on the Registration of Electronic
Communication Apparatus No. 65 of 2011, ZICTA announces to all mobile cell
phone subscribers in Zambia the commencement of the Registration of Subscriber
Identity Module (SIM) cards by the three mobile cellular Service Providers (SP)
Recently during a
ZICTA-media interactive luncheon at Pineview Lodge in Chipata District, ZICTA
public relations manager Ngabo Nankonde said Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)
card registration was not a political issue nor should it spark a debate among
subscribers but rather be considered as a statutory requirement for security
purposes.
She said none of
the mobile phone providers in Zambia had given access to their subscriber call records
to any of the political parties.
”ZICTA has
recently received complaints from members of the public that they are receiving
unsolicited calls and short message systems (SMS) from some political parties,”
she said.
Ms Nankonde said
there was false impression such as the alleged political strategy for the
Government on the current on-going SIM card registration.
She said ZICTA
draws its mandate from the Information Communications Technologies (ICT) Act
No. 15 of 2009 and the Statutory Instrument on the Registration of Electronic
Communications Apparatus No. 65 of 2011 to ensure that all the mobile phone
service providers register the SIM cards of all their subscribers.
Ms Nankonde said
SIM card registration in Zambia was now a law that would enable law enforcement
agencies creates a database to help identify the mobile SIM card owners.
The
registration was essential in tracking down criminals who use cell phones for
illegal activities and also to curb other negative incidences such as loss of
phone through theft, nuisance text messages, fraud, threats and inciting
violence among others.
She said failure
to register a SIM card is a breach of the law and jeopardises government
efforts of stamping out incidences of crime perpetuated through mobile phone
hand-sets and by extension, putting oneself at risk.
Ms Nankonde said
ZICTA had also procured a quality service monitoring equipment worth over
K1billion (KR 1 million) to ensure that mobile phone companies provide improved
services to their clients.
She said this was
to ensure that there was quality service monitoring equipment in place,
consumers would no longer be getting raw deals from mobile service providers
like what was currently obtaining in the country.
”A quality
service monitoring equipment has been purchased at over K1billion (KR 1
million). ZICTA is in the process of discussing with mobile providers on
quality service provision following many complaints from mobile phone (service)
users in the country,” she said.
Ms Nankonde said
the authority has continued receiving complaints of poor service from Airtel
Zambia, MTN Zambia and ZAMTEL.
She said
communication be it mobile phone or internet must be of high quality so that
the public could easily access information using cell phones or computers without
difficulties.
Ms Nankonde urged
Airtel Zambia, MTN Zambia and ZAMTEL to address the various concerns raised by
their respective subscribers because Zambia wants quality mobile services.
She
also said ZICTA will continue to connect schools and universities with ICTs,
adding that plans were underway to also start connecting health institutions
such as Chainama Hospital in Lusaka to ICTs.
Ms Nankonde said
the media is an important vehicle of information technology and strategic
partners in ensuring that the public understand and appreciate the relevance of
ICTs.
However, the
convergence of technologies has changed the landscape of the communications
industry worldwide.
And ZICTA Public
Relations Officer Chisha Mulunda said those who acquire new SIM cards would be
required to register at the point of acquiring them.
He said all
mobile cellular subscribers shall be required to register their SIM card
details with their respective mobile service provider.
“The
registration process is administered by each Mobile Service Provider (MSP) and
the following information should be provided with a full name, National
Registration Card Number, Drivers’ license (for Zambian subscribers), passport
or work-permit number (for non-Zambia Subscribers),physical address, the email
address, if available and details of valid identification documents, serial
number of SIM cards,”he said.
ZICTA director
general Margaret Mudenda said ZICTA was planning to start naming streets and
numbering of houses in Livingstone to enable tourists and other guests locate
various places in the city without much difficult.
Ms Mudenda said
the project, which would be wholly funded by ZICTA would start once relevant
authorities gave the authority a list of roads and houses whose markings were
faded or not there.
She said ZICTA
wanted to roll out the project in Livingstone to alleviate the problem of poor
signage in the city ahead of the United Nations World Tourism general assembly
this year.
Ms Mudenda said
ZICTA would put up permanent sign posts using materials such as cement as
metals were usually vandalised.
She said the
project which was already being undertaken in some parts of Lusaka would later
spread to other parts of the country in residential areas such as the central
business districts and villages.
With
the liberalised economy by the Government, the smart Public Private Partnership
(PPP) shall be a dominant player in the market of internet services and the
expansion of internet, cellular phones, email and other data services which are
expected to ride on the telecommunications network.
The increase in
up-take of the services was expected to facilitate further growth in the
Information Technology (IT) sector through products and services.