via Zim Internet connectivity soars – Southern Eye by Njabulo Ncube
ZIMBABWE’S Internet connectivity continues to soar with latest statistics from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) indicating a significant increase in the months ending December 31 2013.
The latest telecommunications statistics perused by Southern Eye Business released last week showed that the country’s total broadband subscriptions climbed 6,45 percentage points in 2013, going up from 33,4% in December 2012 to an estimated 39,8%.
Within 12 months, the number of Internet subscriptions rose from an estimated 4,4 million to 5,2 million by end of December 2013. The latest statistics show that the bulk of the subscriptions, 5,16 million, are mobile Internet connections using 2G, 2,5G and 3G connections.
These are primary provided by four companies: Econet Wireless, Telecel Zimbabwe, NetOne, Africom and PowertTel. However, the Potraz statistics do not show how many subscribers each service provider accounts for.
The Potraz reports further revealed that even though accounting for a small portion of the total Internet connections, the fixed broadband connections increased reasonably in the year.
“The reason for the continued Internet penetration increase is very clear; reduced mobile broadband tariffs and increased access to Internet capable mobile phones — both feature phones and smartphones, but especially the former,” Limbikani Makani, a telecommunications analyst with Technology Zimbabwe, said.
“Feature phones able to access the Internet have dropped significantly in price. They are now available at prices below $40. Smartphones (Android powered ones from Asia especially) have reduced in price to as low as $70.
“The availability of social platforms where people can interact with family and friends (and therefore create and consume relevant social content) has also contributed to the rise in mobile Internet usage.
“Such platforms include Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter. When the Internet is more relevant it attracts higher usage. In the case of WhatsApp, it’s been more than just social content attraction, but more the Internet providing a lower cost communication alternative to the traditional sms service,” he added.
The total broadband subscriptions is estimated at 5,2 million in a country whose total population is estimated at 13,6 million.
Below is the breakdown of connectivity:
Technology and number of subscribers:
Leased lines 1,359
Dial Up 8,902
XDSL 20,236
Wimax, WiFi9, 632
CDMA 78,091
GPRS/EDGE/2G/3G/HSDP 5,083,138
VSAT 334
Fibre1, 301
Total broadband subscriptions 5,202,993
Source: Tech Zim
COMMENTS
Cell phones are not broad band. So the figure is in the low tens of thousand max.
Neither is dial-up BROADBAND
You see. It’s called the private sector. Compare it to the backward zanupf public sector. Our youth are very lucky to enjoy cheap smartphones and Internet mobile 3g
@Revenger.U r back,and foul mouthed and negative as ever.
I guess if your network drops,its zanu pf,if your airtime finishes,its Mugabe
Murimi wanhasi, unorima nguvai uchingogara uri painternet? Remember kuti strive Masiyiwa struggled a lot for us to get cellphone,zanupf ichiramba. One of the riggers, joyce mjuru was minister in charge at that time.zanupf is antiprogress, ndosaka vanhu vaakuchera mvura mumatsime mutown
Murimi, Revenger is just stating a fact as it is. Name one government owned enterprise which has thrived. By 1995 Zupco, NRZ, ZISCO and Willowvale motor industry, to name but a few had collapsed.
Econet, the company that has taken the lead in providing mobile phone internet connectivity was started by a man who had to take his own government to court in order to be allowed to operate.
Bottom line is our government has proven time and time again that they only know how to destroy, not to build. Deindustrialisation will be Mugabe’s legacy.
Murimi Wanhasi, why is it that you never answer follow up questions? Yes, if my phone runs out of airtime it is Mugarbage to blame, my salary would have been at least 4 times what I earn today but alas Mugarbage made sure that everyone except his band of crooks earns peanuts by destroying the productive sector.
@Obert.Broadband is cheap my bro.I pay abt $32 for unlimited wifi access,not incl mobile.
Now to answer your question.I will be in the fields,mainly supervising,so I obviously get a lot of free time.I stay where I work.
@Ruramai.I dont think Zim is the only state with failed parastatals.The attempts at privatisation were too little too late.I cannot defend the rot that occurred at some,but I will say this government has your interests at heart as far as this telecomms issue is concerned.
Despite the initial resistance,they have allowed a free flow of web activity and unhindered access .Some countries are busy censoring the internet,while Ruramai is free to do all she wants here.Be gratefull.
@Bingo.Im sure I normally respond,but today was Sunday,so Murimi was off to church.
How do u think things were going to turn out for us with all that hatred by the west,and some of our own ,calling for sanctions?How can u have people celebrate that there will be no food aid comin to zim?
We need to change from being negative all the time.
Thats why I have issues with the Avengers of this world.They just have to pick out wrongs on even positive statistics
As for your salary,while the economy is still being fixed,I suggest you supplement with a side project.Hey,Murimi is being very practical.
Murimi, grateful to who exactly?