The chairman of Zambian telecommunications operator Zamtel will step in as chairman of the South African Telecommunication Association (SATA) from April to address challenges in the telecommunications industry.
Mupanga Mwanakatwe, chief executive at Zamtel, said his focus in his new role as chairman at SATA from next month will be on boosting the role of ICT as significant in health, agriculture and education.
Jacob Munodawafa, secretary at SATA, explained the organisation contributed to economic development by investing in ICT.
Zambian telecommunications operator Zamtel plans to launch more connection spots in the peri-urban and rural areas of the country to improve national internet connectivity of the current penetration rate of 10 per cent.
In the next three months US$4 million will be spent on infrastructure updates.
There will be fibre optic installations at 400 high capacity sites to enable 3G and 2G connections.
Mwanakatwe made the announcements at a media briefing session in Livingstone today, the Lusaka Times reported.
The Southern Africa Telecommunications Association (SATA) has operated since 1980 as part of an agreement between Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries for the promotion of transport, communication and meteorology.
