Significantly increasing the use of information and communication technologies and the internet at prices suitable to users is a top priority until 2028, according to the Minister of Transport and Communications, Mateus Mangala.
Speaking at the launch of the Digital Acceleration Project in Mozambique, the minister said that to achieve this goal, financing is underway through a loan, worth 200 million to be paid over 32 years.
Mangala mentioned the fact that the world is moving quickly towards the digitalization of its economies, citing that, in the last two years, the steps of this journey required greater efforts and acceleration to provide an adequate response to the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic- 19.
“During the pandemic, digitalization proved to be a safe and viable alternative in building resilient and functional economies. It was thanks to broadband services and the availability of the internet that we were able to keep educational institutions and various economic and social activities operating”, he recalls.
He highlighted that from these indications, the importance of digitalization in the country's development and a future ready to successfully face possible climate shocks and health and economic challenges became more evident.
The digitalization project will last six years, between 2022 and 2028. The objective is to expand the availability of broadband services to all Mozambicans and create the foundations for an accelerated digital transformation of the economy in strategic sectors.
Mateus Magala highlighted that Mozambique must capitalize on the strengths that this project offers, with a view to embarking on the fifth industrial revolution, which will only be possible for digitalized nations.
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He explained that without digitalization or the third industrial revolution there will not be a fourth, characterized by a fusion between the digital, physical and biological elements.
Aware of the driving role of telecommunications in the country's economic and social development, the Ministry of Transport and Communications identified digitalization as one of the priorities in its actions for the coming years, in order to make the national economy more productive, resilient and competitive.
“Our vision is to assume, with increasing proactivity, our role in boosting the country's economy through the Mozambique Digital Acceleration Project, providing quality, safe and resilient telecommunications infrastructures, to support the process of effective and sustainable digital transformation of the country,” he said.
Mateus Magala said he recognizes that in addition to access to the internet, the population must have digital literacy and be able to own some electronic equipment to access virtual space.
To this end, he expressed his institution's commitment, in coordination with other government entities, in promoting programs and reforms that encourage greater access to the internet and electronic equipment at affordable prices, mainly for vulnerable communities, schools, technical training institutions -professionals and disadvantaged groups, such as women and people with disabilities.
