Maputo, DRC eye Dar internet data connection facility

SYLIVESTER DOMASA

MOZAMBIQUE and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are eying connection to the national Internet Data Centre (IDC) in Dar es Salaam as the two eastern African countries embark on accessing high quality database services.

The new entrants after Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda are targeting a high-tech fibre optic network constructed at Kijitonyama suburb of Kinondoni District in the city.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications Professor Faustine Kamuzora said the two countries had expressed interest to be connected to the region’s centre for Information Communication and Technology (ICT).

“We can proudly say we’re the best ICT centre in East Africa,” Professor Kamuzora told a section of journalists from Tanzania -- and China who are in the country to assess performance of Chinese firm investment in Tanzania and Kenya.

The facility financed by China to a tune of 35 million US dollars hosts services from both the government and business sectors. Prof Kamuzora, who is responsible for communications in the ministry, said discussions were also going on regarding the multinational companies’ interest in the service.

Prof Kamuzora assured the delegation that the centre was secure while immediate plans for a data recovery centre in Dodoma and Zanzibar were well underway. “We’re inviting all ICT and IT firms from across the global to get services,” he noted.

Situated few miles from the city centre, the IDC is expected to be independently run.

Speaking during the commissioning of the plant, the Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, Professor Makame Mbarawa, said that the initial government plans was to connect Dar es Salaam to the rest of countryside and its neighbouring countries -- Kenya, Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda.

Prof Mbarawa said the facility was designed to facilitate fast communication that will help government office especially in remote areas to be quickly connected to the headquarters.

To make it efficient, Tanzania inked MoU with Chinese based Technology company --Huawei to take over the country’s ICT development advisor.

Tanzania and China hold a deep-rooted friendship, with China having supported Tanzania in various development sectors such as transport, education, agriculture and manufacturing.

ICT experts maintain that Tanzania is still seating on untapped potentials, having not utilised fully the technology to spur development.