Government says it is targeting to reach 96 percent coverage of mobile network connectivity across the country this year.

Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati disclosed the plan during the commissioning ceremony of a communication tower in Kasama District, Northern Province.

He said the tower was part of the 14 towers that IHS Towers of Strength has erected across Northern province.

He explained that Kasama received 8, Mpulungu 3, and Mporokoso 2, while Luwingu District received one communication tower.

ZANIS reports that Mr Mutati said that government with the support of IHS Towers of Strength, was also erecting 487 communication towers across the country.

The minister stated that the towers were expected to resolve the issue of communication networks.

He explained that the towers will run on a double combination of battery and generators hence do not expect the issue of loss of connectivity.

He said the erection of the towers was expected to improve quality of service.

Mr Mutati said that the towers will enable people to easily send money, stating that this will greatly help to eliminate challenges that people used to face when accessing services such as e-voucher, social cash transfer among others.

He said the towers will accommodate all the networks, adding that this will minimise capital expenditure by government.

Mr Mutati further said instead of building so many towers, the money can be channeled to make roads and spearhead other developments.

And speaking at the same function, IHS Chief Executive Officer Augustin Phiri disclosed that one tower will be able to accommodate 7,000 subscribers.

He said that towers will come with backup power batteries and generators so that subscribers are not disconnected when there are power outages.