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Internet outage hits Zambia's Copperbelt, Northern regions

By , ITWeb’s Zambian correspondent.
Zambia , 20 Apr 2015

Internet outage hits Zambia's Copperbelt, Northern regions

Zambia's Copperbelt and Northern regions have experienced an internet blackout after issues with the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) Fibre cable.

The cut has resulted in service disruption that has forced the country's largest mobile service provider MTN Zambia to apologise to its customers about the intermittent internet connectivity being experienced in the two regions.

According to a text message from MTN to its customers, the cut has also caused internet disruption between the capital Lusaka and the Copperbelt region.

"We wish to apologise for the service disruption between Lusaka and parts of the Copperbelt and Northern regions. This is due to a cut of a Zesco fibre cable," MTN said in a text message.

ZESCO, a government owned power utility company, has installed optic fibre cables on its high voltage power lines around the country to among other things provide broadband services and real-time monitoring, control and operation of the transmission line.

ZESCO spokesperson Henry Kapata could not be reached for response as to what caused the fibre cable cut or when it would be repaired.

The company's optic fibre network also facilitates the provision of broadband services to banks, hospitals, schools and government ministries and departments.

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