Luanda – Angolan minister for Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Media Mário Augusto Oliveira said that over the last 25 years Angola has invested in fibre optic networks, both on land and underwater, microwave and the space segment.
This was during an interview with "The Business Year" website about changes in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Angola.
The minister said that the country was strongly committed to diversifying its economy and, therefore, its telecommunications needs were essential to achieve that goal.
The sector, he said, was working on projects to expand the national fibre optic broadband network, cyber security and modernise health and education services driven by information technologies, as well as developing microwave networks.
In addition, Mário Augusto Oliveira noted that ANGOSAT-2, the Angolan satellite, would provide services in the C, KU and KA bands, systems that had successfully undergone the test stage, and that the next stage, which would be commercialisation and provision of services, was now being prepared.
According to the minister, with the investments of the last 25 years, the country was able to resist the Covid-19 pandemic, because at that time it was possible to maintain a certain stability in the economy and the services performed.
"Angola is a 1.2 million square kilometers country. And in addition to that extensive area, the country’s cities are displaced. Therefore, the end of digital exclusion is one of the main services on which we focus," he stressed.
According to the minister, telemedicine is a huge reality in the provinces of Moxico, Bengo, Huambo and Bié.
ANGOSAT-2
The minister also said that with ANGOSAT-2 it would be easier to increase the national telemedicine network and also to attend public schools and subsequently reduce the digital exclusion and increase digital literacy.
He added that the sector is developing a project to control the flow in rivers and possible fuel spills during oil exploration.
"With ANGOSAT-2 and the Earth observation project underway, it will be possible to control the environment, including the migration of animals, the burning of forest fires, which is a phenomenon that happens throughout Africa, as well as the control of roads and rail development projects, urban planning, urbanisation of towns, cities and migration," he stressed.
In terms of mobile telephony, he said, Angola only covers around 51 percent of the national territory, which represents a significant margin for growth.
Mário de Oliveira also said that there was a technology called Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), which we encourage operators to use, which involves virtual mobile operators that are added to a traditional mobile operator.
The minister also noted that at the level of information technologies he was also encouraging the main operators and creators, which may emerge among young people, to create platforms that serve the national market, the national economy and national companies.
"Our Angolan youth are highly creative, but sometimes they do not have the necessary space to develop their creativity," he stressed.
