Potraz calls for conclusion of TeleAccess case

operate the country’s second fixed line service in 2002.
But Potraz pulled the plug on TeleAccess in 2005 after the firm failed to roll out services within the stipulated timeframe leading to a protracted legal wrangle that has stalled the licensing of other operators.
The Administrative Court has since then reserved judgment.
The regulator can only licence one more landline operator in addition to the existing Government-owned TelOne.
Potraz director-general Engineer Charles Sibanda said no progress had been made on the case.
“No progress has been made on that issue, the situation is still the same,” he said.
“As the issue is no longer with Potraz we can only wait and urge the relevant authorities to speed up so that we can move forward.”
The country’s sole fixed line operator, TelOne, is failing to meet demand due to financial and infrastructure limitations arising from the economic challenges of the last decade.
The increased use of mobile phones has also resulted in the fixed telephone penetration rate in the country dipping drastically over the years.
Currently, TelOne has a little over 300 000 subscribers and has reportedly lost about 50 000 subscribers in the past two years.
The parastatal is also sitting on a huge debt overhang and is in the hunt for a strategic partner to help revive its fortunes. — New Ziana.