Zambia Launches GovLink Private 4G Network to Strengthen Digital Public Services

Zambia has launched GovLink Private 4G, a government-owned digital connectivity network designed to improve internet access across public institutions and strengthen the delivery of digital government services. The initiative, unveiled at Ndola Teaching Hospital, is being implemented by the e-Government Division at SMART Zambia Institute  in partnership with IHM Southern Africa, Tuso Business Dynamics, Quadrupleplay and the Ministry of Health.

The GovLink network aims to bridge Zambia’s digital connectivity gap by linking health facilities, schools and other public institutions through a secure, shared national infrastructure. The government has designated the health sector as the flagship for the rollout, with major digital health platforms migrating to the new network to improve the reliability and accessibility of healthcare services.

Among the first systems to transition to GovLink are Care 2.0, currently being piloted at Ndola Teaching Hospital, Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital and Kitwe Teaching Hospital, and SmartCare Pro, Zambia’s electronic health records platform, which is already deployed in more than 2,000 health facilities nationwide.

Speaking through Government Chief Technical Officer Kasali Musenge, SMART Zambia Institute National Coordinator Percy Chinyama described GovLink as a critical enabler of the country’s digital transformation agenda. He said the network would provide the digital infrastructure needed to modernize service delivery by connecting public institutions, including hospitals, schools and farming communities, through a government-owned platform.

Chinyama noted that the Copperbelt Province has become a model for digital transformation, with the government nearing full connectivity across public sector sites through collaboration between government agencies and private sector partners. He also commended provincial authorities and public servants for their role in advancing digital government services.

Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi described the launch as a significant milestone in Zambia’s digital health strategy. He said that although the ministry has invested heavily in electronic health systems such as SmartCare, inadequate digital infrastructure has limited their full potential. According to Lishimpi, GovLink provides the reliable connectivity needed to support electronic health records, telemedicine, real-time clinical decision-making and other digital health services.

Ndola Teaching Hospital, Kitwe Teaching Hospital and Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital are among the first healthcare facilities connected to the network and will serve as demonstration sites for the nationwide rollout. Officials said the deployment will help validate the platform before expansion to additional public institutions.

Senior Medical Superintendent at Ndola Teaching Hospital Dr. Justo Banda said improved connectivity has already enabled clinicians to access patients’ medical records, radiology reports and diagnostic information electronically, improving efficiency, accountability and the quality of patient care. Copperbelt Provincial Health Director Dr. Charles Mwinuna added that dependable connectivity will help reduce patient waiting times, strengthen referral systems, improve the management of medicines and medical supplies, and enhance healthcare delivery.

Once fully deployed, GovLink is expected to provide a unified digital infrastructure for government institutions, supporting secure, reliable and citizen-centred public services while expanding digital access to underserved communities across Zambia.