By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe Director General Dr Gift Machengete has declared 2023 as the year of transformation in the ICT sector.
Speaking at the commissioning of school computer labs in Masvingo province recently, Dr Machengete said the authority would surpass last year’s achievements.
The total number of computers disbursed to schools during the year was 4280.
“Speaking of last year, apart from the e- learning initiatives I have alluded to, in 2022, a total of 955 health centres were connected to the internet with one year bandwidth subscription being paid for each of the centres.
“Additionally, a total of 249 Police Stations were connected to the Internet under the e-Government Programme.
“Only yesterday (last week) we distributed 160 computers to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare under the same program as we accelerate the program this year.
“Last year we also constructed 32 new Community Information Centres which are at various stages of completion” he said.
“In addition to that we also started Construction of an ICT vocational training centre at Marondera Open Female Prison to ensure inmates are not left behind in the digital economy.”
In a bid to connect the unconnected, last year POTRAZ funded the relocation of 66 co-located towers by the three mobile operators, Econet, NetOne and Telecel.
The Projects are at various stages of completion.
In 2022, the Authority licenced seven new Internet Service Providers and also opened the door to Mobile Virtual Network Operators under the converged licensing framework.
Towards the end of last year, Hon Dr Jenfan Muswere commissioned a 1000km fibre link along the railway line between Beitbridge and Victoria falls. the link will proceed to Harare via Somabula and Gweru.
This was after POTRAZ issued a Network Infrastructure Licence to a new player under the Converged Licensing Framework.
“Essentially, the new licensing regime is bringing about competition and new technology in the country which would see Internet and data prices falling.
“In 2022 the Authority contributed to innovation and also improved on its regulatory tools among other projects.
“Like I said, in 2023 I declare accelerated progress in terms of project roll out.
“I declare exponential growth in the ICT sector,” Dr Machengete said.
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