Africom has embarked on an initiative to improve access to the internet and make acquiring  information on the world wide web and internet surfing easier and more pleasurable than at present. Currently, the laying of fibre-optic telecommunications cables between Harare and Mutare, parallel to the Feruka pipeline, is Africom’s largest programme.

“We are aware that what is available at present is inadequate.  We are going to aggressively make sure you have decent internet experiences.”

The company’s chief executive, Mr Kwanayi Kashangura, revealed to stakeholders at Africom’s annual beginning-of-the year dinner recently that they should expect easier internet access in the course of this year.

Africom network services manager Rudo Chifamba explained that the cable link will not only connect Ruwa, Marondera, Rusape and Mutare with Africom’s public data telecommunications network in Harare but will make broadband internet access in Harare more affordable.

This is because the cable will be linked to the East Africa under-sea cable, a cheaper way of connecting with the internet than the means currently being employed.

“The Harare-to-Mutare project will allow us to land international bandwidth to Harare,” she said.

She added Africom’s network is capable of providing broadband connections. However, access to the world-wide networks that constitutes the internet had been paid for in United States dollars. At present, the only way to tap into the world wide web is through satellite, which is expensive.

Connecting Africom’s network to East Africa through under-sea cable will make internet access considerably cheaper.

Progress on the project is such that it should be possible to connect Ruwa to the existing network by the end of February. Next to go live would be Marondera, followed later by Rusape and eventually Mutare.

“Emphasising the scope there was for innovation, as a result of the convergence of communication technologies embracing voice, data and to some extent video services,” Mr Kashangura said.

Africom has already started working with partners that have enjoyed voice communications in some remote parts of the country.

“The firm believes in doing things differently and celebrating beginnings rather than endings, which is why it has held this dinner for stakeholders at the beginning rather than the end of every year,” he said.

Ms Chifamba said it is widely expected that in the future, Internet Protocol (IP) would be the only form of telecommunications worth mentioning.

Internet data is transmitted over IP. Voice over IP is becoming increasingly used for voice telecommunications in many countries.

“Africom is very ready for convergence. From day one, when we were building our network we made it IP,” she said.

Africom has in the past demonstrated its ability to use its network for voice telephone calls. It already offers this facility for subscribers wishing to use the network for voice calls to their branches as well as data transmission.

Ms Chifamba said communications networks will in future be moving towards wireless connections. There is evidence already.

The advantages of wireless connections includes the fact that they are environmentally friendly and easily deployed and installed. Even local area networks are expected to be wireless in the future.

Africom has been testing WIMAX, a well known wireless network solution.  It  is ready to roll it out, beginning in Ruwa, where the “last mile”, the connection between the fibre optic cable and the user, would be effected using WIMAX.