by ARNOLD MULENGA
LUSAKA – AIRTEL Zambia is set to invest US$75 million over three years to enhance its network performance.
This follows the sanctions slapped on it by the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) against the operator after its data service outage on June 10.
The resultant expansion includes the rollout of approximately 400 new sites by December 2025, alongside the modernization of Airtel’s core network infrastructure.
All existing sites are to be upgraded to 4G, and 175 new 5G sites will be added to the network.
ZICTA believes these investments are expected to enhance Airtel’s data service capacity and coverage and significantly improve the overall network performance and Quality-of-Service.
“The Authority will continue to monitor these undertakings to ensure adherence,” said Collins Mbulo, ZICTA Director General.
He added, “We expect Airtel, and indeed all operators, to treat their responsibilities to the Zambian public with the seriousness they deserve.”
After the service outage in June, ZICTA summoned Airtel management to explain.
On Friday, Mbulo said ZICTA was not convinced.
ZICTA said Airtel was in breach of regulations because of failure to resolve critical network faults within the stipulated timelines.
There was failure to notify both the Authority and consumers within one hour of the outage, and failure to issue a public apology within two hours after resolving the outage.
ZICTA has directed Airtel to pay K5,2 million (US$224 677) and a fine of K828 000 ($35 775) for contravening provisions of the Quality of Service Guidelines and the Consumer Protection and Code of Conduct guidelines.
“These sanctions reflect the seriousness with which we treat consumer rights and network accountability,” Mbulo said.
– CAJ News
