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New ISP established
MISA-Zimbabwe
September 01, 2004

The Department of Science and Technology Development has established an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and a new web-based mail service. The new ISP has the capacity to provide every Zimbabwean with an e-mail address as it has six servers, which are currently under-utilised.

The general manager of the Zimbabwe Academic and Research Network (Zarnet), Engineer Samuel Kundishora, told The Sunday Mail the service is designed to provide Information Communications Technologies (ICTs) such as internet and e-mail services to the academic, education and research sectors.

The government initiated Zarnet after advice from the Research Council of Zimbabwe. Zarnet has already connected 4 000 schools to the internet and e-mail service network.

With this new product Zimbabweans can now possess only one e-mail address which will enable them to access it from anywhere in the world unlike in the past when they were forced to have two e-mail addresses for similar purposes.

The web-based mail is available through subscriptions at much lower rates than commercial ISPs as the aim is to provide internet services to marginalised individuals and communities.
Meanwhile, the government is soon to come up with an Information Communication Technology policy, which will provide guidelines on the industry. The policy will provide guidelines on what software can and cannot be imported into the country.

The Department of Science and Technology in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has already established a national information communication technology project.

The project aims to create a sustainable economy and knowledgeable society in Zimbabwe through the effective use of ICTs by developing holistic and coherent national ICT strategies.
Zimbabweans in general, especially those in the rural areas, are not aware of the potential of ICTs in enabling access to information thereby contributing to the development effort.

Visit the MISA -Zimbabwe fact sheet

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