A private firm, yet to be named, has been contracted for the installation. With 350 kilometers of the cable already laid, this initiative positions Zambia as a regional hub for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), expected to enhance communication speed, reliability, and accessibility across the region.
Felix Mutati, Zambia’s Minister of Science and Technology, highlighted that the partnership will not only strengthen digital communication between Zambia and Burundi but also allow Burundi to link to other Southern and Eastern African nations through Zambia.
“The fibre optic cable will not only connect our two countries but will also strengthen Zambia’s position as a key ICT hub in the region. This is a milestone for regional collaboration,” said Hon. Mutati.
Burundi becomes the ninth country to be connected to Zambia via fiber optic cable, joining Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.