Zambia

Service Centre | Connect Africa | imageConnect Africa Zambia has developed a best for purpose ICT and logistics infrastructure to facilitate the delivery of multiple services to rural communities in Africa.

Using a unique combination of social enterprise and entrepreneurship Connect Africa provides a gateway for public and private sector organisations to deliver their respective services directly to the rural people of Zambia.

With the support of several stakeholders from both the public and private sectors Connect Africa deployed a three month rural communication service trial in Central Zambia’s Mumbwa district that ended in June 2009.

The objective of the project was to test the technology, management and logistics deployed and to determine user demand and commercial viability.

Six deep rural communication points were selected and each provided with a satellite community phone. Five phones were provided by Fort Telecom using the Thuraya satellite network and one phone was provided by GlobalCom using the Iridium satellite network.

A range of deep rural locations were selected and included a school, clinic, Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) office, two roadside kiosks and a beer hall.

Local operators were selected and trained by the regional coordinator in close cooperation with the traditional leaders of the area.

These service points were monitored and managed over a period of three months and the results of the project are detailed in a detailed project report which is available upon request – (see reports below).

This project is showcased at the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation’s Africa Conference being held in Livingstone, Zambia, on the 25th to 27th August 2009.

REPORTS:

Report on the Government Stakeholder Engagement Workshop, September

This report details the outcome of the first of four Connect Africa stakeholder engagement workshops funded by CTA. The objectives of this workshop were to 1) identify critical challenges faced by government ministries in the delivery of services to deep rural areas and to suggest possible solutions through the use of ICTs, 2) to identify ways in which Connect Africa could facilitate the delivery of multiple government services to rural communities, and 3) to secure support from government ministries and departments for participation in the Connect Africa rural service delivery project.

Rural Communication Network Trial Project:  Mumbwa District, Central Zambia, June 2009

Connect Africa deployed a 3-month rural communication service trial in central Zambia’s Mumbwa district from April to June 2009. The objective of the project was to test the technology, management and logistics of Connect Africa’s rural network model and to determine user demand and commercial viability. Six deep rural communication points were selected, including a school, clinic, Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) office, two roadside kiosks and a beer hall, and each provided with a satellite community phone. Local operators were selected and trained by the regional coordinator in close cooperation with the traditional leaders of the area. These service points were monitored and managed over a period of three months and the results of the project are detailed in this report.