Every legislator in Zambia’s legislature will get a Starlink kit for their home district coming two months after the Internet satellite service was introduced in the nation of Southern Africa.
The Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Chipota Mutati, stated that in the first year the government will be responsible for covering the costs of the 156 constituencies in the country.
Electronic government division is responsible for electronic governance, will supervise the distribution process to guarantee that all constituencies get the assistance they need to thrive in the digital age.
According to Mutati, by providing access to essential internet services, this development would enhance digitalization and promote appropriate ties between members of parliament and their people.
Additionally, he stated that more than 300 devices can be connected at once by the Internet satellite service provider. A Starlink router can only accommodate 128 devices, though.
Among the many issues raised by this development is the strategy’s viability. In this case, ZMK 771 ($36) is the monthly subscription charge for Starlink, while ZMK 10,744 ($505) is the cost of the hardware.
Zambia is ranked 16th in the world and has a poverty rate of 54.4%, making it one of the poorest nations in the world. While most people who earn more than $2 per day still struggle to make ends meet, 64% of people live on less than $2 per day. Because of this, it is improbable that Zambians could purchase Starlink for their homes.
