Online Reporter
Online Reporter
ZIMBABWEANS spent a staggering 5,07 billion minutes on mobile voice calls in the fourth quarter of 2025, a volume equivalent to one person talking non-stop for close to 10 000 years.
The latest sector performance report from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) reveals a 9,04 percent surge in voice traffic, defying global trends suggesting that traditional calls are being silenced by instant messaging.
While SMS volumes fell by 3,49 percent to 2,77 billion as users migrated to platforms like WhatsApp, voice traffic surged from 4,65 billion minutes in the previous quarter.
Potraz attributed this surge in calls to the popularity of on-net calling bundles and promotional offerings that make calling within the same network more affordable for the average consumer.
This growth has pushed the national mobile penetration rate to 107,04 percent, up from 104,8 percent in the third quarter.
There are now more active SIM cards in Zimbabwe than the population, as citizens juggle multiple lines to chase the best calling and data deals.
However, while voice traffic dominated the time spent on the gadgets, data consumption remains the primary driver of the telecommunications sector’s evolution.
Mobile internet traffic rose by 11,27 percent to 160,33 petabytes, while fixed internet traffic grew by 8,86 percent to 479,94 petabytes.
“This robust growth in internet/data traffic continues to indicate a powerful and potentially accelerated shift towards more data-intensive consumption habits,” Potraz said.
Internet penetration subsequently increased to 84,55 percent, reflecting improved access to digital services nationwide.
On the infrastructure front, network operators intensified their expansion efforts, deploying 47 new 5G base stations to bring the national total to 366.
This was accompanied by additional 3G and LTE (4G) deployments intended to enhance the quality of service and network speeds.
In response to the growing demand for connectivity, capital expenditure surged by 112 percent as firms ramped up investment in next-generation infrastructure.
In contrast to the telecommunications boom, the postal and courier segment continued to struggle. Volumes declined by 19,09 percent to 291 106 items as digital alternatives replace traditional mail.
The segment’s cost-to-income ratio reached 117,5 percent, indicating that operating costs are now significantly outpacing revenue.
Looking ahead to 2026, Potraz projected that the sector’s trajectory will remain firmly anchored on data services and the rapid transition towards a data-centric ecosystem.
