via Econet refuses to slash tariffs – Nehanda Radio 30 December 2014
Mobile operators, NetOne and Telecel have moved in to comply with the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ)’s directive to slash voice tariffs from 23 cents to 15 cents per minute, but Econet remains defiant.
With effect from the 1st of January 2015, subscribers will be charged new voice and data tariffs as the country’s two mobile operators move in to comply with the regulatory authority’s directive issued on the 16th of October 2014.
According to the two firms, the new tariffs are being introduced as part of the agreed Long Run Incremental Cost (LRIC) model that POTRAZ crafted over.
The model takes into consideration savings on network infrastructure investment that the operators are set to gain from a new infrastructure sharing strategy.
Econet Wireless Zimbabwe is however still to comply with the policy directive and is currently challenging the decision.
The reduction has been effected by POTRAZ as a response to an outcry from customers who feel the tariffs are too high.
The 23 cents per minute tariffs have essentially been the same since about 2009. ZBC
COMMENTS
ndopoga pandingawirirana nechihurumende chakaora ichi.
Cellphone in Zimbabwe are still not a needy, Netone, Telecom hv a needy as government arms to provide cheap even inefficient services but not Telecel and Econet, for profit organisation.
Instead we want reductions in bread and butter. Hapana anofa nekusave ne cellphone. Siyai econet yakadaro, since telecel n netone ll be reducing, econet ll loose customers and reduce as well all things being normal
Received an sms from Econet today reducing the tariffs to 15c a minute as from today…
as a client i am so disappointed in econet, besides the high tarrifs, their network availability is frustractingly poor. We are losing money trying to open a page and it fails coz the server failed to communicate. Cant someone out there with some authority come to our aid especially in Matebeleland. I was in Harare recently and i was shocked at the efficiency of the network even in the rural areas, but if u ar in Byo its tears only, not to mention leaving Byo just five mins u ar cut from the world. Pliz help somebody we are Zimbabweans too
I think the tarrifs still need further drastic reduction in tandem with the national average individual earning capacity. The current mobile fon tarrifs are stifling individual family subsistance and national development. More common sense interventions on cost of this essential public service is still required.