Zamtel (Zambia Telecommunications Company) is laying a new fibre optic cable network in the Lusaka South Multi-Economic Facility Zone - a move that is expected to significantly increase levels of competition in the provision of local data services.

MTN Zambia, Airtel Zambia and CEC Liquid Telecom are also working on similar networks within Lusaka.

The project will cost Zamtel K1.7 million and will take six months to complete.

Zamtel CEO Sydney Mupeta said the company would deliver cost effective communication solutions to the investors in the Lusaka Multi-Facility Economic Zone.

Once installed, the fibre optic network will improve communication in the area and will connect more than 2,000 customers, he added.

"As Zamtel, we are happy to partner with the Lusaka South Multi-Economic Zone to deliver cost effective telecommunication solutions in order to change the economic and industrial landscape of Lusaka in particular and Zambia in general," said Mupeta.

The telco is hoping the project will lead to an increase in the number of fixed internet subscribers.

Last month, the Minister of Communications and Transport Brian Mushimba said the country has laid approximately 80% of fibre optic infrastructure in order to boost internet connectivity.

The government believes that fibre optic infrastructure together with the construction of communication towers will increase communication access by 94%.

According to recent statistics supplied by the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA), Zambia only has 5, 900 mobile internet users out of 12 million mobile phone subscribers and 31, 800 fixed internet users representing 35.8% and 0.19% penetration rate respectively.