Zimbabwe fibre link to South Africa delayed

The Zimbabwe government said logistical challenges have delayed work on the fibre-optic cable linking Harare and Beitbridge through Bulawayo to the undersea cable in South Africa, which was supposed to be completed in December 2011. The fibre cable, whose installation commenced in May last year, is expected to bolster service provision by state-owned telecommunications companies NetOne and TelOne. ICT Minister Nelson Chamisa said that workers laying the cable had now reached Bulawayo. Chamisa said the contractor ran into a number of logistical problems that hindered progress. All that has been resolved now, and the project is expected to reach Beitbridge by mid-year, he said. Chamisa said all the necessary funding to complete the project was available. In 2009, the government completed installation of the Harare-Mozambique link at a total cost of USD 6.3 million. The government embarked on the fibre projects to improve broadband services as the existing Mazowe earth satellite link proved to be expensive and had limited capacity.