Roll-out Targets To Ensure Broadband Services Access Esp In Marginalized Areas – Potraz

The Director General DG of The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has reinforced its commitment in rolling-out targets ensuring broadband services access to targeted marginalised areas such as Binga, Siabuwa, Gokwe, Nembudziya, Sanyati, Guruve, Mushumbi, Kanyemba, Murehwa, Mutoko and Nyamapanda.

The DG made these revelations only last month in Victoria Falls during a commissioning and launch by Minister of ICT Dr Jenfan Muswere of Zimbabwe’s inaugural multi-million dollar National Railways of Zimbabwe NRZ rail fibre optic project Bandwidth and Cloud Services BCS Group.

“The authority (Potraz) will continue to use these roll-out targets as a means to ensure that broadband services are accessible in all parts of the country. We have been creating school laboratories especially in the rural areas for students to have access to internet as we work to improve e-learning,” said a vibrant visionary DG Dr Machengete.

Information and Communications Technology has been has been prioritized by the parent ministry in charge and the authority with an average full computer laboratory having about 30 computers that are fully connected to broadband services.

22 of these were equipped in 2021 because of Covid-19 induced lockdowns.

The Director General DG said a school computer laboratory helps “bridge the digital divide, improve access to ICT in order to improve the schools’ pass rates.”

DG Machengete said the laboratories are set up so that children are not left behind in terms of learning and access to information which is in line with the second Republic President Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s Vision not to leave anyone behind in ICT as enunciated by his Minister on the ground Dr Muswere.

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe is using the universal services fund for the project which also involves distribution of computers to provinces.

Hospitals and other health institutions have also benefited with 955 clinics connected countrywide.

January last year Potraz licensed fibre connections to provide network facilities and network services in Zimbabwe as it introduced the new licensing regime as a response to technological advancement where all services are now converging on the IT platform.

These Fibre connections provide facilities to rural areas with focus on under-served areas that should benefit from 20 percent of broadband facilities.