The University of Zambia (UNZA) has reached a major digital milestone with the official handover of an enhanced internet connectivity infrastructure at the Great East Road Campus. The project, valued at K825, 516.25, specifically targets the "Ruins" student hostels, addressing years of connectivity challenges for residents.
During the handover ceremony, UNZA Vice-Chancellor Professor Mundia Muya described the upgrade as a "major milestone" in strengthening academic infrastructure.
βToday, we are not merely commissioning network infrastructure but we are addressing a long-standing academic challenge, restoring dignity to the learning process, and aligning the University of Zambia with the realities of 21st-century higher education,β Professor Muya stated.
He further revealed that previously, students in the residences had to walk long distances to find reliable signals or were unable to access e-journals and learning management systems from their personal study spaces due to lack of connectivity. βWith this development I am sure that the challenges of internet connectivity will be a thing of the past,β he said.
Meanwhile, Zambia Research and Education Network (ZAMREN) Chief Executive Officer Mr. Stein Mkandawire emphasised that increasing bandwidth should be viewed as an investment in research competitiveness rather than just a cost.
He said the project was a collaborative effort between ZAMREN and UNZA and further added that a total of K446, 542.00 was spent on laying and strengthening the network backbone, while K378, 974.25 funded the procurement and installation of 45 high-performance access points strategically positioned across the Ruins hostels.
Both leaders issued a stern call to the student body to protect the new equipment