Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Government has earmarked the construction of 469 additional mobile communication towers in all the ten provinces under phase two which will commence in April 2016.
Communication and Transport Minister Kapembwa Simbao has told Parliament that phase two of construction of mobile communication towers which will cover the remaining and under-served areas will be financed through a concessional loan facility.
He says government has appointed Zamtel to own, manage and maintain the 469 sites in order to promote efficiency and effectiveness.
Mr Simbao says the scope of the project will involve erecting communication towers, upgrading the current transmission and radio access network.
He adds that the radio access equipment will provide rural macro coverage based on the coverage predictions done by the contractor and employer to attain the maximum population coverage in target areas within wards as defined in the technical design for all 469 sites.
Mr Simbao explains that each site will cover up to a minimum radius of 10KM.
He states that one all tender process and contractual obligations are fulfilled; the construction of the first sites is earmarked for April 2016.
And Mr Simbao says of the 204 towers erected under phase one, thirty of those have challenges and are not ready for operation.
He explains that the challenge range from the height of the towers which is too short and wrong areas of construction.