Internet growth is not moving in Zambia despite a shift from satellite to fibre. A year ago, it was predicted that mass market Internet use could occur for the first time in Zambia within a year. That time is now.

Coverage is getting better in Zambia but many areas still lack reliable mobile Internet access. {SlideShare}

The question isn’t simply whether 2 million Zambians can use the Internet this year. Instead, the question is whether we can also give them all the content they need.

• Internet still expensive
• Lack of awareness of its usefulness
• Lack of Zambian web content
• Too few (affordable) Internet devices

Why the Internet is expensive in Zambia:

• Nearest peering point is in London
• Terrestrial cable is more expensive than undersea
• Most traffic is international
• The ISP has to provide new last-mile infrastructure
• Power and security issues create cost
• Areas outside Lusaka are more expensive
• ICT literacy levels are low
• Up to 40% of an ISP’s income goes to taxes

Also:

• Facebook needs localization
• health and agricultural information is key
• language is critical
• iSchool.zm is home to e-learning content for the Zambian curriculum

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