In Africa, power shortages, which have become recurrent in recent times, are damaging the telecommunications sector. Approximately thirty countries on the continent are undergoing these blackouts which inevitably hinder the functionality of telecommunications structures.
These failures are increasing operating costs for companies on the continent, as the majority of companies are forced to use generators to take over and prevent deterioration of their devices. This situation has led the majority of operators to increase investment in renewable energy technologies in order to avoid such power cuts.
This comes at the time when most states are trying to convince international companies to invest in the telecommunications sector, especially in rural areas. “The greatest obstacle to the development of telecommunications and information technology is the lack of electricity. Only the elimination of this problem will allow to meet the challenge of quality telecommunication services”, explained Eugene Juwah, the vice president of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
“The energy challenges facing Zambia and countries of the region are likely to hinder the development of the telecommunications sector. We need more investment in energy generation in order to have enough power for our communications equipment and infrastructures”, added Zambian Minister of Communications and Transport. The country has concluded agreements in this regard with Chinese companies for the construction of many small hydro power stations in order to reduce the energy deficit.
Energy experts, meanwhile, accuse all African governments, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, for their lack of support to the liberalization of the energy sector, which would, according to them, develop private investment.
No comments:
Post a Comment