Staff Reporter

Government has adopted the Zimbabwe National Broadband Plan highlighting that it was the Fourth Industrial Revolution upon the technological future of the country rests.

This was revealed yesterday by Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa during the Post Cabinet media briefing.

“The nation is being informed that broadband is the bedrock of the Fourth Industrial Revolution upon which future life-changing technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Block chain, Internet of Things and Autonomous Vehicles will ride,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Minister Mutsvangwa stated the importance of broadband and its transformative benefits which included enhancement of global competitiveness, job creation, increased productivity, improved national security, and enhancement of performance in education, agriculture, health, and governance.

The Minister further said that broadband was one of the prerequisites for achieving sustainable development goals.

Minister Mutsvangwa added that the World Bank studies revealed that ten percent increase in broadband speeds up economic growth by 1.38 percent.

“Studies by the World Bank have revealed that in low and middle income economies, every 10 percentage increase in broadband penetration accelerates economic growth by 1.38 percentage points, and the Second Republic is determined to ensure that no one and no place is left behind,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Meanwhile Minister Mutsvangwa said that the aims of the broadband plan included a drive in innovation in terms of new technologies, services, applications and business models, enhancing the potential of human capital through easier acquisition of knowledge and skills, and increasing community competitiveness by attracting knowledge-based businesses.

The vision of the Broadband Plan sought to promote “An all-inclusive Digital Society powered by Premier Innovations by 2030.”