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LANDLINE telephones still have a decent market share in Zimbabwe despite facing stiff competition from mobile operators, TelOne managing director Mrs Chipo Mtasa has said.She said fixed lines were still an important communications tool in Zimbabwe.
“Landlines still have a market,” she said.
“We have the corporate sector still relying on landlines for much of their business.”
Mrs Mtasa said besides corporates, a considerable number of households were still using landlines.
She said landlines would continue to command a market share mainly because of their affordability in terms of tariffs.
Landline use has dwindled over the years mainly due to rapid increase of mobile phone usage and vandalism of TelOne’s transmitting equipment over the years when the country was in throes of an economic meltdown.
TelOne has a subscriber base of slightly over 300 000. Despite facing various challenges, TelOne is engaged in a number of activities to restore viability including branching into internet provision through the ADSL platform.
Defaulting customers owe the company over $200 million. The company, which the government has earmarked for privatisation together with ten other parastatals, requires an estimated $120 million to restore viability. – New Ziana
Online Reporter
Sidumisile Mabena