Are we listening to a broken tape, or are we to be excited that maybe this time the 5G network will be launched very soon?
The ICT Minister has shared his exciting remarks on the 5G network being launched by NetOne, hopefully soon. He went on to share the moves being made to ensure that Zimbabwe will have its first 5G network.
Below was his speech:
Your Excellency, as your Ministry, we are fully facilitating the development of a digital economy. we will ensure that there is ubiquitous connectivity throughout the country through the provision of infrastructure. The launch of the MBB Phase 3 we have just witnessed today is the testimony of your visionary leadership in connecting the unconnected.
The NDS 1 seeks to provide ICTs and digital access even at the village level. This vision embeds Information and Communication Technology (ICT) across all national development strategies as a key enabler, targeting to increase investment in ICT development to facilitate a digital economy and universal access by 2030. Matt Mullenweg (Social Media Entrepreneur) “Technology is best when it brings people together.”
This launch of the MBB Phase 3 project will result in Network Expansion Growth and broad subscriber growth across the ICT sector, which will see new base stations constructed and installed across the country bridging the rural/urban divide.
We are grateful your Excellency, for your strategic guidance by initiating and developing ICT infrastructure and putting measures to ensure that we develop our ICT infrastructure to meet current technological trends including 5G Networks and this is part of the MBB Phase 3. Bill Gates (Microsoft) “The advance of technology is based on making it fit in so that you don’t really even notice it, so it is part of the everyday life.”
This project will steer the march towards the digital future that will transform the country into a regional technical hub and raise the country’s competitiveness while aligning the country with NDS1 ICT goals as you have championed. The vehicle’s you have commissioned will give logistical support to NetOne
Zimbabwe’s policy thrust, aimed at digitalization can only be realized through implementation of robust innovative and ICT driven industrialization and the MBB Phase 3 underlines your leadership’s commitment to a digital economy.
Your Excellency, a country that does not innovate becomes irrelevant in today’s fastchanging world of big data, the internet of things, artificial intelligence, and machine learning among other emerging technologies. These rapid changes in technology equally affect policymakers. The Second Republic, through your ICT Ministry, is committed to creating an enabling environment for innovation to flourish in the country by providing a forward-looking and adaptable policy environment
Zimbabwe’s future is digital. The Ministry of ICTs promises to revolutionize government services and digitalise all communities. Infrastructure provision, innovation and sector growth combined with worldclass engineering talent will be vital for the Smart Zimbabwe Master Plan.
Through this project ICTs will stimulate growth and development of Zimbabwe and in particular the e-government and e-commerce platforms. We are euphoric that this equipment will see the provision of reliable and affordable ICT solutions for Zimbabweans.
To those that weren’t born after 2015, various headlines announcing this news seem like a copy and paste of the 2015 announcement of this venture. The Herald, in a 2015 article revealed that Netone was to launch the 5G network service.
As stated by the article, 75 base stations had been launched in 2014 and 2015. Right now 300 base stations are said to be “coming soon.”
What’s the difference between the 2021 announcement and the 2015 one?
Well, now it is said that we are in Phase 3 of the National Mobile Broadband Phase 3.
The Herald in 2015 revealed that this venture is being made through NetOne’s “longstanding relationship with Huawei.” A “218 million loan facility extended by ChinaEximBank” was provided at that time for the move towards 5G Networks.
However, it still seems unclear when the 5G Network is expected to be launched, just as unclear as it was in 2015. From both articles it is clear that they are coming “soon.”
One would wonder whether the 5G Network will still be “coming soon” during the next election campaign period.