By Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province, Senator Oliver Chidawu has praised local internet and telephone services provider TelOne for walking the talk in helping create a digital economy.
Speaking before invited guests today at the presentation to him and local authorities delegation from the City of Harare, and towns represented as Ruwa Board and Chitungwiza, Minister Chidawu said TelOne Boss Mrs Chipo Mtasa had steered TelOne well since taking over the reigns in 2013.
Hon Minister Senator Chidawu said, ”May I commend Telone for helping to spur the digital economy in the Province and I would also like to pay tribute to Mrs Mtasa for steering the ship so well over the years.
Telone has developed steadily into a world class service provider under her leadership.”
He added, ”We should have have internet access at village level by 2030, through the extension of the fibre optic backbone, and last mile connectivity. The targeted internet penetration rate by 2025 is 75.42%. Government has developed various strategies aimed at increasing ICTS usage, increasing investment in the sector, increasing compliance with ICT regulations and increasing customer satisfaction and protection in the use of ICTS amongst others.”
Speaking at the same occasion, TelOne Managing Director Ms Chipo Mutasa said,
”Our vision is to enable digitization by 2023.”
Ms Mutasa added that they have digitized even the very education tertiary institutions that nurture and make the necessary personnel required to see internet at village level by 2030.
She said, ”We are now offering a degree in telecomms in association with NUST and our first graduands are coming through this year.”
Minister Chidawu went on to encourage the local authorities represented to tap into Mrs Mutasa’s vision ”In conclusion, may I also encourage our local authorities and indeed other stakeholders to develop and deepen their working relationships with Telone as we all strive for a digital economy and the conviniences that it brings”, he said.
”We are quite excited to have a first-hand view of the Telone Data Centre which also goes a long way in facilitating interaction between Government and citizens.
As we strive for a digital economy, Government, businesses and more people go online thus increasing the need for data centres. The tour of the National Operations Centre was also quite informative as we are advised that the Centre serves to enhance cyber security as it monitors all gateways at all borders.”
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