The cable will connect Harare with Beitbridge via Bulawayo.
“If everything goes according to plan, the installation exercise will be complete by November. At the moment we are half way there,” said the MDC-T MP adding that, “The government availed US$14.4 million for the project.”
Chamisa said when installation exercise was finished it would bolster service provision by state owned telecommunications companies Net One and Telecel, which are set to join Econet in the provision of broadband internet services.
Chamisa, who expressed satisfaction with the progress, called on prospective private stakeholders to partner with the government.
“We are seeking Public Private Partnership (PPPs), to financially assist the implementation and upgrading of the infrastructure.
“We need to bring connectivity to all the marginalized areas. But this can be easily done with the financial muscle of private players since the government is currently facing financial challenges,” said Chamisa.
In the 2011 National budget government allocated US$15 million for the Harare Bulawayo-Beitbridge and Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge fibre optic links.
The routes cover a total distance of about 1 340 km.
Last year, TelOne completed installation of the Harare to Mozambique link at a cost of US$6.3m.
Post published in: Tech