Zambia Internet Service Providers

Internet is the most powerful tool of our time. Its use has become a basic and fundamental need in communication interaction. Am happy to see that Zambia is not behind in this technology as there are several internet service providers readily sharing this phenomenon.

What is Internet Service Provider (ISP)? According to Wikipedia, an Internet service provider (ISP) is an organization that provides services for accessing, using, or participating in the Internet. Internet services typically provided by ISPs in Zambia include Internet access, Internet transit, domain name registration, and web hosting.

Of the internet services offered around Cellular, Fiber-Optic and Wi-fi are the most popular and readily found for end users. Mail hosting and web hosting come in very little quantity as the majority of the Zambian websites are hosted outside the country.

 Internet Services

Following are types of connectivity and access, what they are, and who provides in Zambia.

Connectivity/ Access

• Cellular

This technology provides wireless Internet access through cell phones. This is the most circulated and popular type of access to the internet in Zambia. It is provided by all major mobile telecommunications companies present in the country. That is MTN, Zamtel, Airtel and Vodafone.

• Wireless or Wifi

Wireless uses radiofrequency with speeds varying up-to to 20 Mbps. This too is the most used service in Zambia. Providers of this service include

Zamtel. Zamnet, MTN, Microlink, HAI

• Dial-Up

In the early days, most of the internet in Zambia was through Dial-up and was mostly provided by Zamtel and CopperNet

• Cable

Cable provides an internet connection through a cable modem and operates over cable TV lines. No provider is present in Zambia offering this service.

• ADSL/DSL

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line uses a router to transport data. This service is provided by Zamtel and initially as DSL was so popular at some point though prone to poor service and quality.

• Satellite

This service accesses the internet via a satellite in Earth’s orbit. Its not so popular due to expensive bandwidth rates and regulatory licensing. Providers include Isat IOSAT, Microlink

• Fiber Optic

Fiber-optic communication is a method of transmitting information from one place to another by sending pulses of light through an optical fiber. Fiber is so popularized in Zambia but its performance is terrible due to constant fiber cuts. Poor policy in its implementation. Its also expensive though of late the pricing is now coming down.

Key providers are CEC Liquid Telecoms, MTN, Zesco, Zamtel Airtel, HAI

• Internet Transit

Internet transit is the service of allowing network traffic to cross or “transit” a computer network. This usually happens at a connection from a smaller ISP to the larger internet. Examples of Internet Transit in Zambia are CEC Liquid Telecoms and Zamtel, ZamNet

Other Services linked with ISP

• Domain Name Registration

Entirely dependent on DNS Domain Name is an identification string that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority, or control within the internet.

Local examples of domain names include those with the country-specific parliament.gov.zm and also those that have assumed on the .com like zedsoccer.com

Registration for this service is done by Zamtel, CoppernNet Solutions, MTN and ZamNet.

• Web Hosting

Web hosting is a type of Internet hosting service that allows individuals and organizations to make their websites accessible via the World Wide Web.

Key web hosting providers in Zambia is .NetOne in Lusaka with Zambia’s first and only Multi-Tenant Tier 3 Data Center.

• Mail Box Provider

Is an organization that provides services for hosting electronic mail domains with access to storage for mailboxes.

Market Leaders include MTN, Zamtel and .NetOne