The first shared base station was commissioned last year in Maitengwe at a cost of US$400 000.
In a weekly cabinet briefing to the press, the Minister of Information Monica Mutsvangwa said: "Three new 3G base stations have been commissioned under the Shared Infrastructure Base Stations Project in Harare and Manicaland provinces,"
The shared base stations are expected to enhance telecommunication services in Zimbabwe through providing wider consumer choice and an enhanced service competition which in turn promotes creativity and innovation, infrastructure sharing significantly brings down both capital expenditure and operating expenditure
She also added that the ICT ministry has completed the setting up of internet facilities at some of the community information centres.
"Site scoping and deployment of furniture and Local Area Network (LAN) at all the five Community Information Centres (CICs) established in Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Midlands and Masvingo provinces have been completed. Internet services have since been launched at three of the five CICs, while procurement of outstanding ICT equipment is in progress at all the five CICs,"
As part of the government's program to ensure connectivity at tertiary level, six institutions have already been connected.
"The establishment of a National Research and Education network in order to increase solutions for industrial development at tertiary institutions is at an advanced stage, with six (6) institutions already connected to the Internet. The institutions include Mutare Teachers' College, the Scientific, Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC), Hillside Teachers' College, Kwekwe Polytechnic, Marymount Teachers' College, and the Zimbabwe Open University,"
In addition, the ministry has conducted Consumer Education and Awareness Campaigns to increase knowledge on ICTs and cyber-security in Chiredzi, Triangle, Rutenga, Neshuro, Renco Mine in Masvingo Province, and Mapanzure in Midlands Province.
