"Prioritize ICTs in Foreign Exchange Access" – Nehanda Radio

The Regulatory Authority for Posts and Telecommunications of Zimbabwe (Potraz) called on policymakers to "get on the priority list" to access the foreign currency in order to expand, d & # 39; 39, improve and effectively maintain the network.

Potraz Chief Executive Don Machengete told delegates Monday at the unveiling of the Maitengwe base station in Matabeleland South Province that the currency shortage was stifling rapid growth needed in the ICT sector. To the decision-makers, I would like, on behalf of the industry, to thank you for having put in place visionary policies and regulations, "said Mr. Machengete

" As part of this event, we thank you for the new ICT policy. sharing policy and accompanying regulations. As we strive for and make giant strides towards 100% coverage of Zimbabwe's population, we are seeking your help to ensure that the priorities of the sector are redefined in the allocation of foreign currency by the authorities, "he said. -he says. Technology sector, the ICT sector relies heavily on foreign exchange resources for network expansion, upgrades and maintenance.

"The Internet and international bandwidth also require a stable supply of foreign exchange, and although we fully appreciate the difficulty Zimbabwe faces, we were convinced that the sector could and should be on the list of priorities so that can be sustainable and that consumers can continue to enjoy a reasonable quality of service and that our "

Mr. Machengete added that the shortage of foreign exchange in the country had had a considerable impact on connectivity, Particularly on marginalized areas

"Need to extend the network to unserved areas and communities"

"To understand that ICTs are essential to everyday life, you have to spend a day or two in an area where there is no network, "he said, without the necessary currency resources, the growth of the network and the feature stop, the quality of service can not be guaranteed, the regulation is made dysfunctional and ultimately consumers and He also noted that even though 15% of the total population of the country are not yet connected, it was also crucial to ensure that service providers consider accessibility to consumers in general and at the bottom of the pyramid. consumers, in particular. DailyNews