ZAMBIA stands to gain economically once the installation of the optic fibre network is completed, Communications and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa has said.

Professor Lungwangwa said in an interview yesterday that Government was determined to invest in telecommunication infrastructure development which he said would enable the country gain economically by virtue of being centrally located.

Prof Lungwangwa said the optic fibre infrastructure would be a backbone for easy and efficient communication with countries like Angola which already had the infrastructure in place, Namibia and South Africa, including West African nations.

He said the optic fibre network, once completed would ensure cheaper telecommunication than the satellite network currently being used in Zambia.

Prof Lungwangwa said Zambia needed to reposition itself and take full advantage of Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector development in Africa because communication was a catalyst for social, economic and individual progress.

"Zambia is centrally located and will definitely be the hub of communication traffic flow once we finish the installation of the Optic Fibre network.

We will witness cheaper internet connectivity. ICT is key in ensuring economic generation," Prof Lungwangwa said.

He said the Government attached great importance to the development of the ICT and that this was the reason the ICT Bill had even been passed in Parliament.

Prof Lungwangwa said headway had been made in the installation of the optic fibre and that the exercise had already been completed in Lusaka and the Copperbel would be connected soon.

He said the Government was also determined to improve communication in rural areas where it was encouraging investment in the ICT with the view of generating employment.

And Prof Lungwangwa said the 3rd Generation (3G), mobile communication facility is coming to Zambia next year.

He said the Government was awaiting the Communication Authority to issue a licence before the facility could get onto the market.

He said so far, Zain Zambia had already tested the 3G system and was advanced. Once the licence is issued, the facility would be ready in the first quarter of 2010.