The Zambia Information and Communications Technology (ZICTA) is pleased to inform the public that the extension of access to telecommunication and ICTs under the Authority’s Universal Access programme is on course and has reached an advanced stage.
1.Communication Towers
The tender process for the Authority to fund the installation of 36 towers in selected areas across the country is under way. After its completion, the installation of the 36 towers is scheduled to commence in October 2010 and will be completed by end of December 2010. The main objective of the project is to assist operators in extending Information and Communication Technologies services, particularly mobile telephony and internet services to rural and other areas traditionally lacking such services. Some service providers have not been able to connect certain rural communities due to the high cost of infrastructure installation and low returns for the investment.
The procedures being followed by the Authority are in line with the Public Procurement Act and best practices applicable for such tenders. The consultancy part is usually lengthy because it involves three stages, with one stage depending on the successful completion of the other.
The Assignment Period is divided into Six (6) Months (Inception to project hand-over).
The carrying out of the project is split as follows:
The procedures being followed by the Authority are in line with the Public Procurement Act and best practices applicable for such tenders. The consultancy part is usually lengthy because it involves three stages, with one stage depending on the successful completion of the other.
The Assignment Period is divided into Six (6) Months (Inception to project hand-over).
The carrying out of the project is split as follows:
- Three (3) Months - inception to contract award;
- Three (3) Months actual construction and supervision to project handover;
- Duration for Design and preparation of tender documents is One (1) month.
In order to have timely completion of the project, the project was subdivided into three segments namely:
- 1.Land Acquisition: Letters were written to the District Councils in the selected areas to facilitate provision of land for the construction of the towers. The land acquisition is an administrative matter separate from the tendering process. Some Councils have responded and the Authority is continuing to follow-up for those that have not responded.
- Consulting Service for the Design and Supervision of the Towers: The role of the Consultant will be to prepare designs, bills of quantities and supervise the works during the construction stage.
- Tender for the Construction of 36 Towers with Security Shelters:This will be a separate tender that will be processed after the consultant has provided the designs and bills of quantities.
Status as at 29 April, 2010
The Expressions of Interest closed at the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) on Friday, 15 January, 2010. Submissions were received from eight (8) firms/consortia. Evaluation was undertaken from 27 to 29 January, 2010. The Evaluation Report was submitted to ZPPA for authority to short-list responsive firms. On 8 February, 2010, the Central Tender Committee granted ZICTA authority to short-list three (3) Consortia/firms. Following the authority from ZPPA, the Request for proposals was issued by ZPPA to the shortlisted firms on 5 March, 2010 with a floatation period of 4 weeks. The Request for Proposals closed on 16 April, 2010 following which the ZPPA submitted the technical proposals to ZICTA for evaluation.
An Evaluation Committee has been constituted and will proceed to undertake evaluation of the technical proposals in the week beginning 2 May, 2010, and thereafter financial proposals. The Authority expects that the contract with the Consultant to undertake the design of the towers and produce the bill of quantities will be signed towards the end of May or early June.
The tender for the construction of the communication towers will be invited once the designs and drawings with the associated Bill of Quantities have been prepared. It is anticipated that the project handover for the constructed towers will take place in December, 2010.
2.Multipurpose Community Telecentres
Recently, the Authority funded the establishment of Limulunga Multipurpose Community Telecentre in Western province which was commissioned by H.E President Rupiah Bwezani Banda on April 18, 2010 during the weekend of the Kuomboka Ceremony on April 18, 2010.
So far, ZICTA has completed the installation of seven other community operated MCTs in Mazabuka, Mumbwa, Mporokoso, Mpulungu (two sites), Kabwe, Serenje, and Mongu. These MCTs will be commissioned sometime this year. The establishment of community operated MCTs is an ongoing programme. The objective for MCTs is to promote economic empowerment of rural communities by providing ICT based income generating activities and employment. The programme is also aimed at improving quality of life by enabling access to information on health services, business and education opportunities.
Each of the above mentioned MCTs has received 16 Computers, three printers one scanner, one laptop, one photocopier, one binding machine, one shredding machine, one digital camera, one video camera and an LCD projector as per International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards regarding the requirements of Multipurpose Community Telecentre. These establishments will be commissioned as soon as internet connection has been completed to premises.
Meanwhile, the Authority has embarked on a programme to supply ICT equipment such as one laptop, one printer, one desktop computer and a scanner/fax to the Palaces of the four traditional rulers in the country. The first to receive the equipment was His Royal Highness the Litunga of Barotse Royal Establishment just before the recently held Kuomboka ceremony. The Palaces will also be connected to the Internet service.
Macha LinkNet - Telecentres
So far, ZICTA has completed the installation of seven other community operated MCTs in Mazabuka, Mumbwa, Mporokoso, Mpulungu (two sites), Kabwe, Serenje, and Mongu. These MCTs will be commissioned sometime this year. The establishment of community operated MCTs is an ongoing programme. The objective for MCTs is to promote economic empowerment of rural communities by providing ICT based income generating activities and employment. The programme is also aimed at improving quality of life by enabling access to information on health services, business and education opportunities.
Each of the above mentioned MCTs has received 16 Computers, three printers one scanner, one laptop, one photocopier, one binding machine, one shredding machine, one digital camera, one video camera and an LCD projector as per International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards regarding the requirements of Multipurpose Community Telecentre. These establishments will be commissioned as soon as internet connection has been completed to premises.
Meanwhile, the Authority has embarked on a programme to supply ICT equipment such as one laptop, one printer, one desktop computer and a scanner/fax to the Palaces of the four traditional rulers in the country. The first to receive the equipment was His Royal Highness the Litunga of Barotse Royal Establishment just before the recently held Kuomboka ceremony. The Palaces will also be connected to the Internet service.
Macha LinkNet - Telecentres
The Authority, in April 2009, signed a memorandum of Understanding with Macha LinkNet - an integrated ICT service solution providing services to the rural community to replicate on behalf of the authority, its concept in other rural areas in the country. Macha LinkNet is located about 70 Km away from Choma district.
The initial rural based beneficiaries identified for this programme were Chilonga in Northern Province, Kalene in North-Western and Minga in Petauke district of Eastern Province.
At present, the Telecentre at Minga area in Petauke commissioned on 16th February, 2010 is operational. The other two are expected to be commissioned in the course of this year.
The immediate benefit for these communities will be access to ICTs at affordable rates for the local communities in the mentioned areas. Apart from mainstream telecommunication services, these facilities are envisaged to provide training in ICTs for the local communities in the respective areas.
The Macha model was born out of a VSAT service operated by the Malaria Research Centre located in Macha which eventually grew to a multifaceted community based resource servicing the needs of private and government institutions in that community. The model is considered a success story as it is a highly regarded home grown solution.
Other Planned Universal Access Projects
ZICTA has also started a process to partner with internet service providers in order to roll out Points of Presence (PoPs) in identified rural and underserved areas of Zambia targeting education, health and agriculture centres. This is expected to result in better ways of accessing information in the respective areas. This is expected to facilitate connection of internet service to Multipurpose Community Telecentres being established in affected areas of the country.
