Network equipment - planned for roll-out in Zambia’s underserved areas by operator Zamtel - is instead set to be relocated to Livingstone for a United Nations (UN) conference.

Zambia is planning to co-host the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference with Zimbabwe in August this year.

Zamtel, the country’s only total telecommunications solutions service provider, said it was expanding and upgrading both mobile and fixed networks in Livingstone so that it could cover the city and other identified areas of interest.

This prompted the Zambian government to meet officials from the country’s three operators MTN, Zamtel and Airtel to get assurance that they will provide quality services during the conference to make it a ‘success’ by helping delegates make calls and browse the internet without interruption.

“This is our own initiative to supply government efforts in ensuring the UNWTO conference is held successfully. We are also ready to bring optic fibre networks to hotels on a commercial basis,” Zamtel chief executive officer Mupanga Mwanakatwe.

According to Zamtel chief technical officer Sydney Mupeta, Zamtel has 11 2G low capacity sites in Livingstone, and that these are planned to be swapped with high capacity sites which would provide 3G services.

The company, Mupeta said is also adding 10 more sites to bring the total number of sites to 21 to provide blanket coverage of 3G services in Livingstone.

MTN and Airtel have so far not said how they intend to improve network coverage and internet services in the areas.