China funds sh50b ICT project
Jul 21, 2007
PARLIAMENT has approved $30m (about sh50b) for the construction of a national database transmission backbone infrastructure.
By David Muwanga
PARLIAMENT has approved $30m (about sh50b) for the construction of a national database transmission backbone infrastructure.
The backbone will be a fibre link to provide high speed and affordable connections for voice and data communications across the nation.
It will link district headquarters.
“The project will be financed by the China government through a loan from the Exim Bank of China.
“It will be implemented in three phases. Phase one to cost $30m has already been approved by Parliament,†said the ICT minister, Dr. Ham Mulira.
He explained that his ministry completed the development of the project last November.
The minister said one component of the project will provide enhanced communication facilities for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala in November.
“The project is meant to complement and not to compete with the private sector initiatives because it is the responsibility of the Government to develop the infrastructure like roads.
“In the same way, the national backbone is a digital road in that although the Government builds it, usage is for anyone including telephone service providers,†Mulira said.
He said the backbone will be built under a public-private partnership.
PARLIAMENT has approved $30m (about sh50b) for the construction of a national database transmission backbone infrastructure.
The backbone will be a fibre link to provide high speed and affordable connections for voice and data communications across the nation.
It will link district headquarters.
“The project will be financed by the China government through a loan from the Exim Bank of China.
“It will be implemented in three phases. Phase one to cost $30m has already been approved by Parliament,†said the ICT minister, Dr. Ham Mulira.
He explained that his ministry completed the development of the project last November.
The minister said one component of the project will provide enhanced communication facilities for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala in November.
“The project is meant to complement and not to compete with the private sector initiatives because it is the responsibility of the Government to develop the infrastructure like roads.
“In the same way, the national backbone is a digital road in that although the Government builds it, usage is for anyone including telephone service providers,†Mulira said.
He said the backbone will be built under a public-private partnership.