adminThis follows the completion of the upgrading exercise on the multi-million Bulawayo based Huawei mobile switching centre.
In a statement yesterday, NetOne managing director Mr Reward Kangai said the mobile operator would launch the first product in Bulawayo before launching the Harare edition.
“NetOne is set to launch its mobile broadband services to the public in Bulawayo on 7 December 2011.
“The launch in Bulawayo is because we were afforded a loan facility by the China Export and Import Bank amounting to US$45 million towards this project. This money was channelled to Huawei Technologies who are our mobile switching centre provider in the Western region. The Bulawayo based switch provides network coverage,” he said.
Mr Kangai said once launched, the Internet service would be accessible to the whole of the country’s southern region around Bulawayo, Binga, Gwanda, Gweru, Kwekwe, Plumtree, Tsholotsho, Victoria Falls, Zvishavane, and other parts of Midlands.
“Our mobile broadband network rollout started from the Western Region because of the equipment that was installed by Huawei Technologies. In Harare, network is now available in the Central Business District and selected residential areas whilst we are rolling out more 3G base stations.
“The Harare based switch is provisioned by Nokia Siemens Networks and they are at an advanced stage of rolling out more base stations to increase coverage in key cities and highways,” said Mr Kangai.
He said the company is working in conjunction with sister company TelOne, in the provision of Internet services’ backbone network.
TelOne is connected to the Internet cloud via a submarine cable in East Africa and is set to give high speed and reliable Internet connectivity to subscribers.
Mr Kangai said both prepaid and post-paid subscribers would have access to the Internet and bundled services through enablers such as data cards, also known as dongles, smartphones, tablets and laptops.
Online Reporter