By Brenda Kayo:
The Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC) has hailed World Bank-funded Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP) as an ideal tool for enhancing the national digitilisation drive.
The World Bank committed $150 million funding for the project.
PPPC Chief Executive Officer Patrick Kabambe disclosed this on Tuesday when he appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Media in Lilongwe.
The six-year project will commence in October this year and will connect reliable internet services to 500 public institutions and 2000 public schools with free Wi-Fi zones.
Kabambe said the project will be implemented in two phases with the bank giving $70 million in the first phase and $80 million in the second phase.
He said the project will bring about significant improvements in internet access and cyber security, directly benefiting Malawians by making internet services more accessible, affordable and secure.
“This funding will enable us to expand our digital infrastructure, ensuring that more Malawians, especially those in the rural and underserved areas can benefit from reliable and affordable internet services. The project also wants to connect 2000 schools with free Wi-Fi,” Kabambe said.
Parliamentary Committee on Media, Information and Communication Vice Chairperson Ishmael Grant asked the commission to not ignore areas with low internet services.
“We have seen that they are implementing tremendous projects through the Malawi digital project. But we have seen that other areas are still struggling so with this new project we want to see new changes in those areas,” Grant said.
0 Comments