Zambia’s Telecom Sector Faces Challenges Amid Prolonged Power Outages

Zambia’s telecom sector is facing a critical challenge: prolonged power outages that are crippling its ability to deliver quality services. 

The Zambia telecom power challenges have become a major concern for the Global System for Mobile Communications Association of Zambia (GSMAZ), which represents the country’s three major mobile network operators – MTN Zambia, Airtel Zambia, and Zamtel.  

The Impact of Prolonged Power Outages

In a joint statement, the GSMAZ highlighted the negative impact of power cuts exceeding four hours. 

These extended outages are causing significant disruptions, jeopardizing service quality, and driving up operational costs for mobile network operators. 

The root of the problem lies in the environmental crisis Zambia faced in early 2023. 

Drastic reductions in water levels at Lake Kariba, the world’s largest man-made reservoir, were caused by severe climate change and unpredictable weather patterns. 

This resulted in a substantial decline in electricity generation capacity for both Zambia and neighboring Zimbabwe.

ZESCO’s Response: Harsher Load Shedding

ZESCO, the state-owned power utility, was forced to implement harsher load shedding measures. Initially, blackouts lasted six hours, but the situation has worsened to daily outages of up to 14 hours. 

The GSMAZ emphasized that Zambia is experiencing its worst climate change effects in its entire 60 years of independence, with the impact felt across all sectors, including telecommunications. 

With over 3,500 combined tower sites reliant on the national grid, the telecom industry is particularly vulnerable. 

Zambia telecom power challenges are forcing mobile network operators to incur significant additional costs due to the constant need to refuel and service backup generators more frequently. 

These backup systems, designed for outages lasting a maximum of four hours, are being pushed beyond their capacity by the extended blackouts.

Read More: Wasoko Shuts Down in Zanzibar, Pauses Operations in Uganda and Zambia

GSMAZ’s Response to the Crisis

In response to this crisis, GSMAZ members are actively working with tower providers, regulators, and other stakeholders to develop long-term solutions. 

The focus is on exploring sustainable energy alternatives, with solar-powered backup systems emerging as a potential solution to enhance network resilience.

The situation in Zambia is not unique. Zambia telecom power challenges mirror struggles faced by telecom operators across Africa. 

Similar issues have been prevalent in South Africa, where Eskom, the state power utility, has implemented planned “load shedding” since 2007. 

However, South African operators have taken proactive measures. 

MTN South Africa, for example, invested heavily in 2023 to move its base stations off-grid, while Vodacom South Africa entered into a “virtual wheeling agreement” with Eskom to accelerate efforts in addressing the country’s energy crisis.

Learning from South Africa’s Initiatives

These initiatives showcase the innovative solutions being adopted by African telecom companies to address power supply challenges. 

As climate change continues to disrupt energy production and distribution, the telecommunications industry must adapt and innovate to guarantee reliable services for customers. 

The critical role of the telecommunications sector as an engine for economic development and social progress is highlighted by the situation in Zambia. 

Finding sustainable solutions to address Zambia telecom power challenges is crucial for maintaining connectivity and supporting the country’s economic progress as it navigates this energy crisis.

Was this information useful? Drop a nice comment below. You can also check out other useful contents by following us on X/Twitter @siliconafritech, Instagram @Siliconafricatech, or Facebook @SiliconAfrica.