Business / Local
$45m NetOne broadband launched in Bulawayo
08 Dec 2011 at 06:38hrs | Views
PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday officially launched the US$45 million NetOne Broadband and the NetOne Ascot Mobile Switching Centre and Packet Switch Call in Bulawayo yesterday.
The project will be the nerve centre of the southern region's telecommunications system.
It is expected to greatly improve network reliability, availability and security in the region.
It will also enable NetOne subscribers to access and use Internet services on their mobile phones.
The equipment and technology used on the system was provided by Chinese company, Huawei, which is the world's second largest supplier of telecommunications equipment.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony that was held at the NetOne plant in Ascot, President Mugabe said the project came about as a result of a US$45 million loan from China Export and Import Bank.
He said the upgrading of telecommunications facilities was also expected to boost the revival of industries in Bulawayo.
He said the country had been a victim of unjustified sanctions which had delayed economic programmes in the country.
He said the country would continue to look east as the policy had borne fruit indicating that Zimbabwe had been right to turn its back on the West.
He said he was not denigrating the US because everything he was saying had been published by the US government.
The President said thanks to the launch, the country's southern region would now be able to use the Internet in e-education at schools, e-health at hospitals and e-government.
NetOne presented the President and the First Lady, Amai Grace Mugabe, with items that included i-pads, telecommunications goodies from Huawei and five computers with Internet dongles.
The company said the computers should be used to further the President's work of bringing ICT knowledge to schools in Bulawayo, Masvingo, Midlands, Matabeleland North and South, which form the southern region.
The project will be the nerve centre of the southern region's telecommunications system.
It is expected to greatly improve network reliability, availability and security in the region.
It will also enable NetOne subscribers to access and use Internet services on their mobile phones.
The equipment and technology used on the system was provided by Chinese company, Huawei, which is the world's second largest supplier of telecommunications equipment.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony that was held at the NetOne plant in Ascot, President Mugabe said the project came about as a result of a US$45 million loan from China Export and Import Bank.
He said the country had been a victim of unjustified sanctions which had delayed economic programmes in the country.
He said the country would continue to look east as the policy had borne fruit indicating that Zimbabwe had been right to turn its back on the West.
He said he was not denigrating the US because everything he was saying had been published by the US government.
The President said thanks to the launch, the country's southern region would now be able to use the Internet in e-education at schools, e-health at hospitals and e-government.
NetOne presented the President and the First Lady, Amai Grace Mugabe, with items that included i-pads, telecommunications goodies from Huawei and five computers with Internet dongles.
The company said the computers should be used to further the President's work of bringing ICT knowledge to schools in Bulawayo, Masvingo, Midlands, Matabeleland North and South, which form the southern region.
Source - TC
