Maputo, Mozambique — The state-owned Mozambican Telecommunications Company (TDM) is prepared to invest 7.5 million US dollars to improve its infrastructures and services in the central province of Zambezia over the next three years, reports Wednesday's issue of the daily paper "Noticias."
Arnaldo Nhavene, the TDM telecommunications director in the provincial capital Quelimane, said that most of that money will go into expanding the capacity of the telephone exchanges in Quelimane, and in the district capitals of Mocuba and Gurue, because of increased demand.
The money will also be used to install a fibre optic cable between Beira and Quelimane, and to set up a telecommunications network to cover the rural areas and the few district capitals that are not yet covered.
Development of infrastructures, notably telecommunications, was among the issues discussed during the Zambezia Development Conference that recently took place in Quelimane, bringing together local and foreign business people and donor organisations.
In Zambezia, the telecommunications service currently covers 14 of the 16 district capitals, and eight of the 29 administrative posts. In some districts, communications still rely on radio, but this system is being gradually replaced.
Speaking of the work his company carried out in the year 2000, Nhavene mentioned the installation of satellite communications in Mocuba and Gurue, which is to be extended to five districts of Pebane, Morrumbala, Milange, Alto-Molocue and Maganja da Costa.
He stressed the need to improve communications between the various Mozambican cities and with the neighbouring countries.
"In terms of infrastructures, the company, in its development strategy, has been implementing projects to satisfy market needs and expand geographical coverage, improve the quality of communications, and regional and international integration and create competitive advantages, develop the backbone of the communications network, expand and modernise infrastructures, and expand the mobile phone network," said Nhavene.
