ZESCO' S INSTALLATION OF THE OPTIC FIBER NETWORK

ZESCO is about to complete the second phase of the

installation of Optical Fiber Network on high voltage
power lines extending it to the Western, Eastern,
Northern, Muchinga and Luapula Provinces.
The main purpose of establishing the optic fibre network
is to ensure that the provision of electricity from the
point of generation to the point of supply to the
customers is done efficiently, reliably and safely. In
addition, the excess capacity on the network is being
sold commercially to the public, to improve Information
Communication Technology (ICT) for the citizens of
Zambia, and at the same time derive revenue that is
being re-invested to increase electricity generation
capacity and thus reduce loadsheding.
The optic fiber network has greatly enhanced the quality
and reliability of the electricity supply and improved the
provision of better customer services. This is as a result
of the better and faster telecommunications services
the fiber network is providing.
The ZESCO Optical Fiber Network is a major investment
not only for ZESCO, but for Zambia as a whole.
It has and is being constructed in three project phases.
The first phase commenced in 2006 and was completed
in 2007. The network covered 1,700 km of fiber from
Sesheke to Livingstone, Choma, Mazabuka, Lusaka,
Kabwe, Kapiri Mposhi, Kitwe, Solwezi and Lumwana; and
from Lusaka to Kariba and Kafue Gorge Power stations.
The second phase commenced in 2010 and is expected to
be completed in September 2012. The network will
cover 2,600 km of fiber from Kabwe to Mkushi, Chinsali,
Isoka and Nakonde; Serenje to Chipata and Katete;
Mpika to Kasama, Luwingu, Mansa and Kawambwa;
Ndola and finally Sesheke to Mongu.
The third phase will extend the network by a further 900
km to Mbala, Mpulungu, Petauke, Mfuwe, Siavonga,
Kalabo, Kasempa, Mpongwe and Kaoma. This phase is
expected to commence soon after the completion of the
second phase and is expected to be completed by March
2013.
The optic fiber network has also helped in ensuring that
there are faster responses to queries that are sent
through our national call centre, and also to faults that
are reported.
When the installation of the fibre network is completed
countrywide, it will bring a lot of benefits to the country
as it will reduce blackouts and provide reliable power
supply at the right voltage. This will be as a result of the
ease to control and monitor the vast electricity network
remotely.
This initiative has also greatly assisted in the
establishment of the prepayment metering systems to
all the provinces as the system is online and the
customer's database is updated in real-time. Other
benefits to ZESCO include the enhancement of the
Business Information Systems, efficient operation and
control of the complex and interconnected power
system into the provinces/neighbouring countries and
enhancement of the administrative processes.

The Optic fiber network has provided a platform for a

country-wide video conferencing system thereby
reducing travel meeting costs. It has also assisted in
securing ZESCO's costly electricity installations through
the CCTV and access control system.
These enhanced telecommunications services through
the optic fiber network have greatly assisted in
improving the management of the generation,
transmission and delivery of electricity; reducing the
cost of ZESCO operations; reducing electricity outages;
improving operational efficiencies, which improves
customer service delivery.
ZESCO is determined to ensure that unnecessary
blackouts are reduced to a minimum, once works have
been implemented and has resolved to support
sustainable development of the country through
infrastructure development.
Furthermore, in 2003 ZESCO entered the liberalized
telecommunications market as a wholesale
telecommunications operator and began to sell the
excess capacity on its extensive telecommunications
network to the public.
The commercial telecommunications service was later
branded as FibreCom in 2008. FibreCom is now the most
dominant wholesale telecommunications player on the
Zambian market and provides over 90% of the country's
internet traffic.
FibreCom is providing a fast, large capacity and highly
reliable network for all the Cellular Telephone
Operators, Internet Service Providers and most of the
Corporate Entities such as banks, etc.

The advantage of the FibreCom network is that it is a

robust, secure and Zambia's most extensive optic fiber
network. It is also Zambia's main optic fiber
international gateway through the Sesheke Namibia
border to the international submarine optic fibre cables
(SAT-3, SEACOM & EASSY) that are interconnected to the
rest of the world through South Africa.
Due to Zambia's central geographical location in
Southern Africa, the FibreCom network is set to become
the hub of high speed telecommunications traffic in the
region.
The FibreCom network will soon be the first to provide
more international connections to Tanzania, Botswana,
Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Through the
FibreCom network, most Zambians will start enjoying
true high speed broadband and internet services as it
will cover most of the country's administrative districts
and other outlaying rural areas.
It will enhance the usage of ICT applications for
sustainable social-economic development, including
implementation of e-government-learning-healthcommerce.etc. It will also stimulate the business
environment especially in the underserved rural areas.
The provision of broadband communications services to
the banks, government, schools, hospitals and business
communities in different areas is one of the benefits
that Zambia will attain.
The Fiber Com network is also creating employment in
the short and long term and reducing the cost of doing
business.