Since the liberalization of the telecommunication sector in 1994, Zambia has witnessed significant growth in the ICT sector. Growth has been recorded in the number of mobile telephone subscribers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Internet users, broadcasting stations, postal/courier operators and telecommunications networks.

Despite the liberalization of the sector, access to ICT services is narrowed to residents in urban areas, leaving out the rural areas which comprise of 65% of the country’s population.  

The seclusion of rural communities and underserved areas from ICT resources perpetuates the problems associated with socio-economic deprivation including poverty. Most rural communities in Zambia lack access to basic ICT services and risk being left out of the information society. To accurate the existing inequalities in access to ICT services, the government identified universal access as one of the pillars in the ICT policy.

The legal framework on rural connectivity in Zambia was governed by the Telecommunications Act of 1994 which mandates the Authority to ensure the extension of telecommunication services nation-wide. The National ICT Policy of 2006 further provides direction regarding rural connectivity and the provision of and access to telecommunication/ICT services.   

Authority’s mandate in Universal access
The Authority has a mandate to facilitate the provision of communication services throughout the country including those in rural and underserved areas.
 
The main objectives of Universal Access

1. Promote accessibility to ICTs facilities and service to all Zambians
2. Promote affordability of ICT services to all citizens  in terms of pricing
3. Promote availability of ICT facilities and services nationwide