admin
The Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) said eight base stations had been erected in disadvantaged areas using the USF.
Potraz deputy director general Mr Alfred Marisa said it was misguided for mobile phone operators to call for the scrapping of the USF.
Econet recently called for the removal of the USF, saying it was no longer serving its purpose as operators were expanding network coverage across the country.
Telecommunications companies in the country are obliged to contribute two percent of their gross monthly earnings to the Potraz-managed USF.
However, Mr Marisa said there were some areas that still did not have access to mobile phone services.
“Econet’s argument is that since operators were already deploying services in some rural areas, there was therefore no need for Potraz to continue collecting funds for the same purpose but they have not yet covered all remote areas.
“We also appreciate the fact that operators would be happier if they pay little or nothing towards the worthy cause but that does not diminish the value and importance of the fund as we intend to service remote areas that are not yet covered,” he said.
Mr Marisa also said the sites developed by the USF were shared by all operators unlike those deployed by individual operators who in most cases did not share infrastructure with other operators.
He said Potraz had used about $7 million to construct eight sites at Dlamini in Matabeleland North with a repeater at Zibumgulu, Manama in Matabeleland South, Chiodza in Midlands, Malipati in Masvingo with a repeater at Pahlela, Mahenye-Chilo in Manicaland with a repeater at Masoka, Pfungwe in Mashonaland East, Chidodo in Mashonaland Central and Neuso in Ngezi area of Mashonaland West.
“Potraz through the USF has constructed passive telecommunication infrastructure consisting of access roads, towers, equipment rooms and power supplies. Eight sites have so far been constructed and about seven million dollars used,” said Mr Marisa.
He said erection of base stations using the USF took time because the projects by nature involved many stakeholders and needed a lot of consultation.
“It is pertinent to appreciate that USF projects are multi-stakeholder projects by nature. They go through the usual Government bureaucracy, as they require approval by the responsible minister and are subject to state procurement procedures,” he said.
Mr Marisa said before disbursing the funds, Potraz had to follow rules in place to safeguard the funds from abuse.
Online Reporter