Zambia Approves K255 Million to Upgrade Digital Infrastructure and Network Quality
The roundtable brought together officials from the Ministry of Technology and Science, the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA), and private sector stakeholders to review progress in the country’s digital economy agenda and strengthen collaboration on future initiatives.
Felix Chipota Mutati has announced new measures aimed at accelerating Zambia’s digital transformation and improving service delivery, following the Third Digital Economy Roundtable (DERT III) held at The Quorum in Lusaka.
The roundtable brought together officials from the Ministry of Technology and Science, the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA), and private sector stakeholders to review progress in the country’s digital economy agenda and strengthen collaboration on future initiatives.
According to Mutati, the discussions focused on ensuring that Zambia’s digital transformation delivers tangible economic benefits for citizens while improving access to digital services nationwide. He said the government’s “New Dawn” reforms have already produced significant results, driven by restored investor confidence and strengthened governance.
Among the key achievements highlighted was the expansion of the country’s fibre-optic network from 15,000 kilometres in 2021 to more than 45,000 kilometres. Mutati also noted that financial inclusion has surpassed 80%, while national connectivity coverage has reached 94%.
He added that hundreds of new communication towers are currently being deployed through public-private partnerships as part of efforts to strengthen telecommunications infrastructure across the country.
Addressing concerns about network congestion, Mutati described increased pressure on networks as evidence of growing participation in the digital economy. However, he acknowledged the need for infrastructure improvements and announced that government has approved K255 million to upgrade digital infrastructure and improve Quality of Service (QoS), particularly in rural areas.
As part of efforts to strengthen accountability in the telecom sector, ZICTA will begin publishing quarterly public reports on network performance to ensure operators meet required service standards.
The meeting also discussed new digital economy initiatives, including the rollout of the Digital Navigator System, which will monitor implementation of government commitments and track delivery progress. The system was highlighted by Presidential Delivery Unit Head Ms. Kusobile Kamwambi as a tool to improve accountability and execution.
Mutati further announced plans to establish a dedicated workstream focused on supporting content creators and gamers, with the aim of helping young people generate income through platforms such as Meta, TikTok, and YouTube.
Artificial Intelligence and robotics were also identified as strategic priority areas, with government seeking to leverage emerging technologies to improve productivity in sectors including mining and education while strengthening Zambia’s global competitiveness.
In addition, a Technical Working Group will be formed under the leadership of Permanent Secretary Eng. Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu to centralize ICT statistics and improve the use of data in policymaking and sector planning.
Mutati emphasized that Zambia’s digital transformation agenda is a national effort that goes beyond politics, citing cooperation between government agencies, regulators, and private sector players. He reiterated that the government’s objectives remain focused on improving the availability, accessibility, and affordability of digital services for all citizens.
