Zambia Unveils $280M Plan to End Network Blackouts, Roll Out 781 New Towers

Minister of Technology and Science, Hon. Felix Mutati, has announced a $280 million plan to permanently address nationwide network outages, linking recent communication failures to the severe 2023/2024 drought and Zambia’s reliance on hydropower.

Responding to a three-week network collapse in Lumezi Constituency, Mutati outlined a three-pronged strategy focusing on energy security, national network sharing, and rapid tower rollout. He confirmed that outages in areas such as Shibande, Kazembe, and Chitungulu were caused by low energy output from hydropower-dependent grids, which left communication towers disconnected.

The government plans to implement nationwide backup and alternative energy solutions, including hybrid power systems combining fuel-generated power, renewables, and standby batteries. A pilot of 20 towers is already underway with private sector participation.

In addition, a Network National Roaming pilot is being conducted to allow mobile subscribers to access services across providers, reducing coverage gaps in remote areas. Once validated, this system will be rolled out nationally.

To accelerate network expansion, the Ministry is fast-tracking the construction of 781 new towers, building on a 2022 analysis that identified the need for 998 additional towers. Funding will come from a dedicated line in the 2026 National Budget, moving away from reliance on the Universal Access and Service Fund (UASF), which previously supported only 30 towers annually. The World Bank-backed Digital Zambia Acceleration Project (DZAP) will contribute 300 towers to strengthen digital inclusion, particularly in rural areas.

Minister Mutati assured citizens that the government remains committed to digital inclusion and will continue collaborating with partners to deploy resilient communication infrastructure across Zambia.