20 Oct 2016

Construction of the 32km Kachikau-Parakarungu optic fibre cable line has been completed.

The cable connected Satau and Parakarungu to the national backbone in Kachikau at a cost of P12.8 million.

 The project was expected to transform communication and the Internet speed in the area. 

An additional P5 million was spent on the transmission terminal equipment, shelters and power.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, BOFINET board member Mr Gadzani Thangwane said the main objective of the project was to connect all villages between Kachikau and Parakarungu to the national telecommunications network.

“Services will be added and dropped in these villages leaving them with the capacity to host high speed access network stations such as 3G and 4G,” he said. 

It was also envisaged that through the upgrading of existing infrastructure, government would be better enabled to provide e-services to these areas.

Mr Thangwane further explained that the project offered the likes of BTCL, Mascom, Orange and other established players a platform to deploy broadband technologies such as 3G/4G to improve connectivity to the end user.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Mr Neil Fitt, commended Parakarungu for being the first to get a connectivity launch.

He added that, though the village was the last in the Chobe Enclave, through ICT they could be the first village. 

As such Mr Fitt urged the residents to take advantage of such connectivity for the betterment of their lives.

“I also got to drive on the gravel road from Kachikau to Parakarungu and I assure you that we shall see what to do about it,” he added, perhaps meaning that the road will be improved.

About the road, Chobe District Council Chairman, Mr Mwanota Kachana urged the PS to give it a thought and leave a legacy to be remembered by.

Regarding the optic fibre project launch, he emphasized the need to provide an infrastructure that guarantees quality and reliable Internet. 

“Poor Internet connectivity and speed has the potential to chase potential investors away from the country,” he said. ENDS