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Michael Tome
Business Reporter
ECONET Wireless Zimbabwe (EWZ) plans to increase its 5G network coverage to enhance overall network performance and quality of service to customers.
In the quarter to May 2024, EWZ commissioned over 30 new network sites of various interface technologies across the country.
EWZ said the network modernisation programme would continue with the installation of additional sites planned in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas.
The network modernisation for enhanced service delivery is in response to the growing utilisation of data services.
EWZ has also added some functions to the core network to stabilise and improve the delivery of broadband services.
The modernised and new cloud-based core network offers better service personalisation to meet diverse customer needs.
“The business recognises the imperative of network modernisation to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.
“With the advent of 5G, IoT, and other cutting-edge technologies, the need for robust, agile and future-proof network infrastructure has become more pressing than ever.
“Increasing our 5G penetration is also a key initiative that we are pursuing as the business targets to commission additional 5G sites by the end of the financial year,” said EWZ group company secretary Tatenda Ngowe.
Operationally in the quarter under review, EWZ data and voice usage grew by 74 percent and 46 percent respectively compared to the same period in the prior year.
Data and voice revenue contributed 42 percent and 38 percent respectively of the MNO revenue compared to 33 percent and 45 percent in the same period last year.
“The marked growth in data usage underscores the need for sustained network expansion and upgrades to adequately meet the ever-increasing demand for mobile broadband and digital services.”
This is a digression from the norm where MNOs used to earn more from voice ahead of data.
EWZ declared and paid an interim dividend of 0,26 US cents per share for the quarter to May 2024 in respect of all the qualifying ordinary shares of the company.
According to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ)’s 2024 first-quarter sector performance report, Zimbabwe had a total of 27 5G base stations installed as of March this year.
“Internet penetration rate has been on an upward trend spurred by the continuous uptake of Internet-centric services as well as increased investment in infrastructure, like fibre optic cables and the rollout of LTE and 5G mobile networks,” said POTRAZ.
According to POTRAZ, digital transformation is fast becoming a reality as evidenced by a surge in data consumption through increased use of online trading platforms, e-government, growth in other digital platforms, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
This trend has necessitated the apparent preference by mobile network operators to deploy higher data capacity 3G and 4G (LTE) base stations compared to 2G base stations.
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