Click Here & Upgrade PDF Complete Expanded Features Unlimited Pages Documents and other similar value- added licenses is inhibiting most Zambians to enter the market due to inadequate access to start-up capital (financing) for such ventures. This has negated the benefits of the shareholding requirement though well intended to ensure that as many Zambians as possible are empowered as entrepreneurs in the sector. Private Data Networks The provision of private data networks has been liberalised and is fully competitive. The financial sector leads the private data network segment. Most banks and other financial institutions involved in tax revenue collection and pension funds have set-up their own VSAT data network solutions linking branches across the country; this includes national and international links in the case of international banks. However, VSAT technology has proved much more expensive in the long term especially with respect to space segment costs paid to foreign operators/service providers. The introduction of these technologies in Zambia has tremendously improved the delivery of financial services, with cash withdrawal facilities including international credit/debit cards such as VISA offered on the market. On the other hand, Internet Banking has just been introduced as some of the innovative services on the market. Such services will require reliable and cost-effective transmission and access technologies thus helping spread banking services to rural areas. On the other hand, Virtual Private Network (VPN) licenses have increased from one (01) in 1996 to fifteen (15) in 2004. Other Supporting Infrastructure Telecommunication infrastructure alone cannot be cost-effective if it is delivered in isolation. Given the high cost of deploying telecommunications infrastructure such as Fibre Optic, there is need to have a holistic approach to social and economic infrastructure development strategy in the country. The development of road networks and rural electrification schemes play a complimentary role in attracting telecommunication rollout. The existence of roads and electric power whether via grid or off-grid (using renewable/non-renewable) technology can increase the uptake of ICT tools such as computers, TV, radio etc. This strategy is imperative for schools and clinics which are major growth points in urban and rural areas. Therefore, the delivery of integrated infrastructure (roads, electricity, telecommunications) should be adopted as a deliberate measure during design and construction of schools, clinics, farming blocks and resettlement schemes etc. This approach tends to lower the overall cost of delivering infrastructure especially in rural areas and in turn lowers the cost of services to the end user. Therefore, some of the challenges in the deployment telecommunications infrastructure across the country are; (a) (b) and delivery of High technology acquisition and deployment costs especially in the development of the national telecommunications backbone infrastructure; Limited coverage and poor quality of existing telecommunications and Internet infrastructure in the country; 11