(Ecofin Agency) - The Zambia Telecommunications Company (Zamtel) has commenced works to modernize its telecoms infrastructure and expand its network in rural areas. This project cost the firm $280 million, its CEO, Sydney Mupeta (picture), revealed. So far, works have been conducted on 100 sites, out of 1,009 targeted. 

The firm’s decision to focus on rural areas is due to the fact that these remain the least covered by telecoms services, though being the most populated, in the country. “The future of Zamtel is very bright, we are on course with our $280 million investment that will give us the best network coverage that the country has ever seen,” Mr Mupeta said.

Zamtel’s chief added that the investment will provide the operator a speed of up to 240 Mbps for its 4.5G network, for landline users, and 4G, for its mobile users. 

Zambia’s third largest operator in terms of users, Zamtel currently carries out a massive operation to win new market shares. With about 2.3 million users already, the firm wishes to increase this number to 2.5 million by the end of this year.