In collaboration with Meta, Paratus Zambia has announced an investment agreement to build fiber networks in underserved areas.

Paratus Group, Paratus Zambia, and Meta have announced that they will work together to build a 900-kilometer metro fiber network in Zambia. Both companies say that the goal of this project is to improve connectivity and networking in underserved and underdeveloped areas in ten cities and towns.

The building is said to create up to 500 jobs for people in the area, improve Paratus’ infrastructure, and help the company offer more affordable services and better coverage in certain areas. 

The network is also said to connect to the Paratus carrier-neutral data center in Lusaka, where Paratus can serve local businesses directly with high-quality connectivity without a bridge. 

But Paratus Zambia will own, build, and run the network to provide wholesale services to mobile network operators and Internet service providers in the country, especially in the areas listed in the last part of this article.

The project has been said and affirmed to be in two different parts and at various times, as they will not be both ongoing simultaneously. The first part is to take effect in January and bring fiber to six cities in January 2023, although the cities have not yet been specified. Assuredly, before the end of the year 2023, fiber connectivity will be added to the remaining four cities that were not touched earlier during the first part.

Marius Van Vuuren, the Managing Director of Paratus Zambia, says that work has already started and that the company hopes to finish the first km by November 2022 so that the line can be turned on early in January 2023. He says, “However, this is not a small task, but it is a big deal for Paratus because it’s essential for the Zambian economy and because we’ll be helping millions of people and hundreds of businesses connect to the Internet through a faster and safer fiber network.”

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Other Details About The Deal With Paratus and Meta

While the first phase will bring fiber to six cities by January 2023, the second phase, on the other hand, will connect four towns before the end of 2023.

Marius van Vuuren, the Managing Director of Paratus Zambia, also added that work had already started when he said, “We aim to complete the first 280 km by November and activate it by early January 2023.”

Furthermore, he said that “This is a significant relationship for Paratus not only because of its importance to the Zambian economy but also because we will be helping to provide millions of people and hundreds of businesses with the opportunity to connect to the Internet via a faster (better) and more secure fiber network.”

Then, according to Schalke Erasmus, the CEO of the Paratus Group, “This intervention is very much aligned with Paratus’ strategy to transform (revive) Africa through exceptional digital infrastructure and customer service. We have already made significant investments in our Zambian networks, such as our fiber link from Lusaka to Chirundu and our own state-of-the-art Data Center in Lusaka to house content locally (within Zambia).” He continued, “We are also working on a parallel project to link the metro networks to various towns and cities in Zambia. We are very proud that Meta has recognized this pledge and is supporting us with this investment too.”

Then the Head of Public Policy, Southern Africa Meta, Nomonde Gongxeka-Seopa, added: “These metro networks are critical to building digital communities and helping businesses evolve, particularly in under-connected communities. Paratus has already built fiber in many parts of Zambia, and this relationship will help extend their good work (which includes the deal).” He further said that “it’s good news for Zambia.”

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Where Paratus and Meta Would Make Metro Fiber Will Be Available

Below are the towns where Metro Fiber will be available at the end of the two phases, as approved by both companies; Kitwe, Chililabombwe, Solwezi, Ndola, Livingstone, Chingola, Chambishi, Kabwe, Luanshya, and Mufulira.