derick.khumalo
Nqobile Bhebhe
[email protected]
Telecommunications company Powertel Communications is undertaking a US$10 million phased network modernisation programme to upgrade Zimbabwe’s national broadband backbone, with the first US$2 million phase already completed as the company ramps up investment in high-capacity digital infrastructure.
The project is expected to significantly increase the country’s internet transmission capacity while strengthening Zimbabwe’s position as a regional telecommunications transit hub.
Expanding broadband capacity improves business productivity, facilitates innovation and enhances the country’s attractiveness to investors.
Speaking to Zimpapers in Bulawayo today, Powertel Acting Managing Director Mr Willard Nyagwande said the network modernisation programme would cost approximately US$10 million, with implementation taking place in phases.
“This project, what we are calling network modernisation, we are going to incur costs up to about US$10 million.” he said.
“So far what we have done in terms of this project is, we have managed to buy what we call the DWDM equipment, Density Wavelength Digital Multiplexes,” Mr Nyagwande said.
“This equipment will enable more capacity to be transmitted in and outside Zimbabwe.”
He said Powertel had already invested US$2 million to commission the first phase of the project, enabling 800 gigabits of bandwidth between Plumtree and Bulawayo.
“So, in the first phase, we have already spent up to US$2 million for us to activate this node.
“The first phase of deployment of the US$2 million has already been done, which means Zimbabwe can now access, today, 800 gigs of bandwidth between Plumtree and Bulawayo.”
Mr Nyagwande said the modernisation programme builds on Powertel’s rapid expansion of network capacity, which has grown from 3GB in 2022 to a foundation capacity of 14 terabytes, with 800GB already activated.
“As we have already alluded to, we are coming from a low capacity of 3GB in 2022 to a foundation of 14 terabytes and with 800GB activated.”
The next stage of the project will extend the upgraded backbone to Victoria Falls by the end of August before progressing to the Harare-Mutare corridor, which connects to Mozambique.
“And by end of August 2026, which is in two months’ time, we will be landing into Victoria Falls.”
He said upgrading the Harare-Mutare international gateway would require an additional US$2.5 million investment.
“So once that link is done, we then go to the next gateway, Harare-Mutare, into Mozambique which is another US$2.5 million.”
Mr Nyagwande said the investment is focused on installing modern transmission equipment rather than laying new fibre, as the national fibre backbone is already in place.
“What we are looking at is only the equipment that we are upgrading. The infrastructure, the fibre, is already there.”
He said the upgraded network would enable Powertel, as Zimbabwe’s national backbone provider, to supply high-capacity broadband to all licensed telecommunications operators, supporting faster internet speeds and improved digital services across the country.
