Maputo — The European Commission is providing 8.2 million Euros (about 10.9 million US dollars) for the rehabilitation of the telecommunications networks in the southern Mozambican provinces of Gaza and Inhambane.

According to a Tuesday press release from the Maputo delegation of the Commission, the work will begin officially on 17 February.

The project consists of rehabilitating rural telecommunications networks based on the existing transmission centres in the towns of Xai-Xai, Chokwe and Chibuto in Gaza, and Inhambane City,, Vilanculos and Massinga in Inhambane.

The new infrastructure, using radio techniques, will allow phone calls to Chicualacauala, Pafuri, Massingir, Mabalane, Mazivila, Mandlakazi and Chigubo in Gaza, and to Vila Franca do Save, Machanga, Mapinhane, Mabote and Pomene in Inhambane.

The contract for this work was signed on 16 December. It is the greater part of a telecommunications package financed by the European Commission to the tune of 10.8 million euros.