Zambia’s largest mobile operator Airtel plans to launch a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in the country this year.

The company said the LTE network will first be rolled out in the capital Lusaka and the Copperbelt, which is a province over 300km north of Lusaka.

Company managing director Charity Lumpa said the company plans spending $80 million this year alone in rolling out 147 LTE sites and expanding its network in order to enhance quality and coverage.

Lumpa further admitted that Airtel is faced with network challenges that have forced it to invest the $80 million in network expansion and coverage.

Once launched, Airtel will join rival operators MTN and Zamtel that already have LTE networks.

Currently, Lumpa said the company has 1,096 base station sites spread across the country. But plans are in place to increase the number of sites in order to cover more rural and underserved areas in the country.

She said the company will add 353 3G sites: the implementation of which is expected to be completed by year-end.

“We have in past experienced significant network challenges it terms of network coverage but we have done a lot of research and introspection leading to more investments and network expansion and coverage,” Lumpa said.