Zambia, located in south-central Africa, is a landlocked nation with geographic features that include rugged terrain, vast plains and high plateaus. The population of about 19.5 million people is spread unevenly, with a high concentration in the capital, Lusaka, and the Copperbelt Province. These areas, due to their density, have relatively better access to infrastructure. In contrast, the rural regions suffer from limited connectivity, largely due to the challenges of extending services across Zambia's varied landscape. The country has seen growth in its telecommunications sector with the entry of multiple mobile operators. However, infrastructure development is still ongoing, with a focus on expanding broadband services to rural areas. Significant investments have been made in renewable energy, particularly hydroelectric and solar power, reflecting a shift towards sustainable technologies. Despite these advancements, Zambia's technology sector is still maturing, with a considerable portion of the population yet to gain access to basic telecommunication services and modern technologies.
Mobile Network Operators
The are 3 companies operating mobile networks in this region.
Airtel Zambia is a telecommunications company operating in Zambia. Founded in 1998 as Celtel Zambia Plc, the company is owned by Bharti Airtel Zambia Holdings BV (BAZHBV) which in 2018 held 96.36% control of the shares, with the remaining 3.64% are owned by public investors through the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE). Celtel rebranded to Zain Zambia in August that same year, following the acquisition of Celtel International by Zain Group.
It is a subsidiary of Airtel Africa plc, an Indian multinational company that provides telecommunications and mobile money services in 14 countries in Africa...
MTN Zambia is the second largest mobile network operator in Zambia. The company started its operations in Zambia in August 2005 after acquiring the then Telecel which had been operational in the country since 1997. MTN Zambia is part of the MTN Group a multinational telecommunications company with a footprint in 22 countries in Africa and the Middle East.
Zambia Telecommunications Company Limited, commonly known as Zamtel, is a government-owned telecommunications service provider operating in Zambia. The company's roots trace back to the first telephone exchange installed in Livingstone as part of the General Post Office (GPO) in 1975. The GPO later transformed into the Zambian Post and Telecommunication Corporation (PTC), which was eventually split into two separate entities: the Zambia Postal Services Corporation (Zampost), and Zamtel. This division was a result of the Telecommunications Act passed by the Zambian government in July 1994.
In...