MBABANE – The Minister of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Senator Savannah Maziya said that the national fibre optic layout is intended to bring data costs down.
Speaking at the closing of the training of Members of Parliament (MPs) on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Maziya said that bringing data costs was one of the four main things that her ministry is working on.
The other things that the ministry is doing including rehabilitating the infrastructure, such that the Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC), one of the ministry’s parastatals, continues to lay out the network; digitising government services; training of government staff and encouraging the University of Eswatini to adopt ICT curriculum and; enhancing communication with stakeholders.
“AI is here. It has been here. We are just paying more attention now because it is becoming more prevalent in all that we do,” she said.
Maziya first thanked the politicians for showing interest and participating in the training that was facilitated by the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) Research Group.
They were taken through various elements of AI to show them how it can transform the public sector.
The minister said her ministry will take the politicians through the journey to garner the support needed for national laws regulating AI use, including within the public service.
The minister said that 10 000 homes have access to the fibre network and the ministry wants to cover the whole country.
“Data is expensive because of employee costs.
“We have installed microwaves throughout the country – done. Smart city, 5G and free WiFi with 59 cameras, done,” Maziya said.
The minister said that 48 of 52 Tinkhundla centres, 60 public schools and 214 medical centres including hospitals, have access to free WiFi, with the target being 155 schools having access to the service by the end of the financial year. She said the government plan is to have 800 schools having access to free WiFi by 2028.
“Microwaves allow us to do WiFi in 214 medical centres including hospitals,” Maziya said.
Maziya said they have now finalized a system for health tracking of medical drugs and inventory, online tax payment, pre-customer payments and online tax clearances.
“From next year, we are implementing an education registration system,” she said.
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