COMMUNICATION and transport minister Brian Mushimba says Zambia has laid about 80 per cent of optic fibre in its quest to boost internet connectivity in the country.

Speaking in Durban, South Africa, on the sidelines of the SADC Ministers’ meeting on Communication and ICT yesterday, Mushimba said the laying of the optic fibre cable had covered many parts of the country, in addition to the construction of communication towers.

He said the government’s effort of putting up various communication infrastructure would increase communication access by many Zambians by 94 per cent per cent, according to a statement issued by first secretary press at the Zambian mission in Pretoria Naomi Nyawali.

Mushimba said Zambia attached importance to the provision of easy access to communication as it was a vehicle for achieving socio-economic targets that the government had set.

“Government has since put up an optimal policy and regulatory framework that will ensure that the general members of the public have affordable access to communication facilities,” said Mushimba.

“And the establishment of the ICT Centre of Excellency in Ndola and many others to be established across the country will help build capacity to bridge the gap between rural and town areas thereby achieving the goal of a Smart Zambia.”