Online Reporter
Jacqueline Ntaka
Feature
WE now live in an increasingly digital world, where instant messaging often dominates communication, but a recent report from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) for 2024 reveals a compelling trend — voice calls are on the increase in Zimbabwe. The annual report paints a clear picture of sustained growth in voice traffic, underscoring the enduring relevance of traditional telephony for the Zimbabwean populace.
The Potraz 2024 annual report highlights a significant increase in total voice traffic for mobile network operators (MNOs) and fixed-line services, rising by an impressive 12,82 percent to reach 13,2 billion minutes. This marks a substantial jump from the 11,7 billion minutes recorded in 2023. This growth is primarily attributed to an upsurge in national traffic, particularly “net on net” calls — calls made within the same mobile network.
The report goes on to reveal that “net on net” calls experienced a remarkable 20,70 percent increase, soaring from 8,82 billion minutes in 2023 to 10,65 billion minutes in 2024. This substantial growth in on-network voice communication indicates a strong preference for direct voice interaction among subscribers.
While certain categories, such as mobile to fixed and mobile to other mobile calls, experienced a decline, the overall surge in national voice traffic, which increased by 11,13 percent to 12,82 billion minutes, demonstrates a clear upward trajectory for voice communication within Zimbabwe’s borders.
It is noteworthy that the report does acknowledge a downward trend in aggregate international voice traffic. This decline is largely attributed to the growing popularity of third-party applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, and Apple’s FaceTime. These platforms offer alternative voice and video calling functions at more affordable rates compared to traditional international calls. However, this shift in international communication habits does not detract from the overwhelming dominance of domestic voice calls.
The increase in voice calls suggests that for many, the immediacy and personal connection offered by a direct conversation remain unparalleled. Unlike text messages, which can sometimes be prone to misinterpretation due to the absence of tone and inflection, voice calls allow for clearer communication of emotion and intent. This richness in communication is particularly valuable for complex discussions, urgent matters, or simply maintaining stronger social bonds. The ability to hear someone’s voice, their laughter, or their concern, fosters a deeper sense of connection that text-based communication often struggles to replicate. For many Zimbabweans, especially within family and community networks, the exchange provided by a voice call is simply irreplaceable.
While digital messaging certainly has its place, particularly for brief exchanges and data-based international communication, the data unequivocally demonstrates that the spoken word, via traditional voice calls, continues to be favoured by many as a mode of communication in Zimbabwe.
Jacqueline Ntaka is the CEO of Mviyo Technologies, a local tech company that provides custom software development, mobile applications and data analytics solutions. She can be contacted on [email protected]
