Connect 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 – (Link to reports section).
This project is being showcased at the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation’s Africa Conference being held in Livingstone, Zambia, on the 25th to 27th August 2009.
Discussions are currently underway with the Zambian government to roll-out a comprehensives service across at least one full District in Central Zambia.