Huambo – The Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Mass Media, Mário Oliveira, highlighted, this Friday, in Huambo, the importance of the sector in the modernization of the Angolan economy.
The government official, who was speaking at the opening of the II Advisory Council of the Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Mass Media (MINTTICS), taking place until Saturday, under the motto “Connect and Communicate for Citizenship”, highlighted that the telecommunications and information technology sector plays an important role in the modernization of the Angolan economy, as it contributes directly and indirectly to its growth.
In this area, he said, the sector will continue to develop actions and projects with a view to expanding infrastructure, to allow for an increase in literacy levels and digital services, as well as ensuring continuous digital transformation.
The minister highlighted the expansion of the national fiber optic broadband network, the “National Data Center” project, the Installation of a Cybersecurity Academy, the expansion of the meteorological station network, among others.
Mário Oliveira considered that the transversal impact of information and communication technologies is felt, both in the improvement of more efficient public administrative services, and in a more dynamic economy, in which increasing levels of connectivity multiply opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation among services.
He recalled that current market indicators show that the country has close to 26 million mobile service users and 11 million internet users, which represents 76%.
He added that 33% of these basic network services represent close to 30 million kilometers of terrestrial fiber optic cables installed, while another 4 million international submarine cables tie up in Angola.
He also highlighted that the sector aims to develop a competitive information and communication technology industry, which boosts innovation for the benefit of Angolan society, as a result of the increased use of the internet and digital services by the population.
In this view, the minister highlighted that the “Conecta Angola” project, launched in 2022, in the commune of Belo Horizonte, municipality of Cunhinha, province of Bié, is already present in other locations in the country, such as Cuando-Cubango, Lunda-Norte and Lunda-Sul, with a coverage of 20 thousand inhabitants.
Space program
He mentioned that in the chapter of the national space program, an earth observation satellite is being developed, which will make it possible to provide services in various productive sectors.
Mário Oliveira said that in the field of Meteorology and Geophysics, the modernization process of the National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics (INAMET), saw the installation and entry into service of 23 synoptic stations and 13 “agro-network”, in addition to one of hydrology and seven meteorological observation for aviation, upper atmosphere observation network.
He made it known that in 2023, the ministry trained, in this field, 1,222 technicians in the field of information technology, 20 in the area of meteorology, 156 in the space sector and 5,839 technicians through the ITEL Technological Training Center.
The challenges of the Media subsector
Mário de Oliveira, informed that the sector is working to guarantee rigorous, impartial, constructive and educational information to all citizens.
He added that this work involves strengthening and improving the State's public information policy and institutional communication.
Mário Oliveira said that the strategy involves continuing the national digital communication program, aiming to reinforce the role of Executive communication on the internet, with the valorization and dignification of human resources, especially journalists and technical operators in the public subsector.
Also included is the institutional reform and adaptation of the Social Communication Legislative Package, as it constitutes na importante key to normalize the organization and functioning of public and private bodies in this subsector.
March-Woman
He highlighted that, by a fortunate coincidence, the opening of the II Consultative Council takes place precisely on International Women's Day, an event dedicated to the immortalization of the countless female achievements over time and the need for their permanent valorization.
“Women are the mainstay of a society, the driving force of growth and socio-economic development”, highlighted minister Mário Oliveira, who offered a rose to each woman present in the meeting, a gesture equally carried out by the governor of Huambo province, Lotti Nolika.
The minister called on women to continue to exert their resilience, determination, solidarity and promotion of social cohesion for the continued construction of the Angolan nation and the much desired social progress.
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