Government asks telecoms to provide affordable internet services

Government has asked telecommunications companies to provide affordable services to the public by lowering various telecommunication costs.

Government officials also want telecommunication companies to ensure that there is equitable distribution of internet services within the countryside to minimize the digital divide in the country.
The Prime Minster Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, in a speech read delivered by the first Deputy Prime Minister Moses Ali during the launch of Airtel 4 G network at Kampala Serena Hotel on Wednesday said: “Following the launch of Broad Band in Uganda, the telecommunications companies should make sure they provide affordable and accessible telecommunication services to the general public.”

Despite the increased penetration of telecommunication devices coupled with the telecommunications’ innovations, the cost of internet among other services has remained high.
Dr Rugunda explained that the government launched the National Broad Band Policy last year to improve on the country’s business environment.

“Strengthening Uganda’s competitiveness, the policy seeks to have internet accesses and affordable in service provision. Uganda is on the verge of crossing into a developing country, with reliable internet. We believe we can improve the quality of services by exposing Ugandans to new opportunities in education. We have to continue to attract the right investors,” he said.

Dr Rugunda added: “I call upon the government institutions to harness the technology, digitize their operations and improve the quality of service delivery in Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs) and in Local Governments (LGs) (E-governance). ICT has improved the operations of MDAs/LGS in accelerating the use of websites,” he said.

The executive director of Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Godfrey Mutabazi, said ICT continues to change the face of development in the country and globally.

Speaking about the scale of investment in the ICT, Mr Mutabazi said: “A lot of investment has been made by the telecommunications companies with total investment of $1.2 billion injected in this economy by the private sector in telecommunication sector.”

“The ICT has greatly changed Uganda and we must be prepared to embrace this 4G and 5G technology,” he added.

Mr Mutabazi explained that with the launch of the Broad band policy last year, the telecommunication companies will have to continue modifying their network coverage in Uganda.

“We expect seamless connection in all parts of the country in the next three to five years,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT and national guidance, Mr Vincent Bagiire said ICT is driven by the power of internet infrastructure, mobile telecommunication services and other value added services that come in to complement government’s investment infrastructure.

“Broad band is policy is designed to ensure that there is equity in distribution of internet in the country. We are looking at digitizing the operations of government and provision of services for the people. We still have to line up to apply for passports yet if it was digitalized, one would just sit home and have the passport delivered to them,” he said.

He further stated that there is a co-relationship in ICT and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) citing international ICT companies like Google, Microsoft and Amazon which are all contributing massively to their country GDP.

He added that the relationship with GDP is evidenced in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
"You have to ensure that there is sufficient and dependable internet connectivity. 4G economic growth is dependable on the knowledge economy. Therefore, we must have internet connectivity for artificial intelligence,” he said.

The managing director of Airtel Mr V.G Somasekhar said Airtel has lived by its promise of providing 100 per cent 4G Broad Band coverage providing internet to 95.9 per cent of the total population of Uganda and they have 10 million customers (connected on Airtel line).

“This technology is covering countrywide. By digitizing, we are easing the process of doing business in Uganda. The 4G will drive Uganda into the fourth industrial revolution characterized by smartphones, digital access, digital inclusion and digital penetration,” he said.

Mr Somasekhar said telephone density in Uganda now stands at 56 per cent. Airtel is covering all the districts in Uganda with broad band technology of 4G.

He said Airtel has invested $800 million infrastructure to provide the countywide 100 per cent Broad Band network coverage.