Nalolo’s 74,000 Residents Struggle With Eight Network Towers

More than 74,000 residents in Nalolo District […]

More than 74,000 residents in Nalolo District are facing persistent network connectivity challenges, with only eight mobile network towers currently serving the entire district.

Nalolo Town Council Public Relations Officer Buttyson Kandimba told Zambian Business Times-ZBT that the district has five network towers on the East Bank and only three on the West Bank, leaving large parts of the rural district with limited or no reliable mobile connectivity.

Kandimba said the situation is particularly concerning on the West Bank, which has a significant share of the district’s population but remains poorly serviced by mobile network infrastructure.

“In total we have eight towers in Nalolo. We have five on the East Bank and three on the West Bank,” he said.

He said the challenge is compounded by the geographical layout of the district, which is divided by the Zambezi River, making access to some communities difficult.

Kandimba said about 85 percent of the district is affected by poor network connectivity, with only a small proportion of residents able to access reliable internet services.

“The challenge of connectivity is really real and the large part of it is not serviced with mobile network,” he said.

He said the limited network infrastructure is also affecting access to online services, business and government programmes, particularly as more services are moving towards digital platforms.

Kandimba said some parts of the district have no network from any of the major mobile operators, while other areas may have a signal but experience poor internet quality.

He said residents and public institutions have had to rely on alternative connectivity solutions, including Starlink, to access the internet in areas where conventional mobile networks are unavailable.

“At the office, it can’t pick. For you to talk with me here as we are talking, it’s because of Starlink,” Kandimba said.

He said the absence of reliable connectivity is also a challenge for government programmes that increasingly require beneficiaries to access services digitally.

Kandimba said the council has engaged network providers over the situation, but operators have cited the district’s relatively small population as a concern regarding the commercial viability of expanding infrastructure.

“The providers still feel that the population of the district is still on the lower side. They may not get the business that they want,” he said.

He has since called for greater investment in telecommunications infrastructure to ensure that rural communities are not left behind as Zambia becomes increasingly digital.

Article by Karen Ngulube