Page 115 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

and data usage has been consistently increasing owing generated by the postal and courier sector increased by
to a more digitalized economy, with mobile internet data 49,4 percent to record ZWL$3,9 billion from ZWL$2,6
traffic totaling 32 473,1 terabytes in the third quarter of billion. Despite revenue growth, he said: “Total mobile
2022, representing a 26.1 percent growth from 25 755,9 operator operating costs grew by 97,1 percent to
terabytes recorded in the previous quarter.” He said record ZWL$48,6 billion from ZWL$24,7 billion, while
the postal and telecommunication sector is expected operating costs for IAPs grew by 52,9 percent to record
to grow exponentially with increased adoption of ICTs, ZWL$18,25 billion from ZWL$11,93 billion. The postal
operator investment and innovation efforts, as well as and courier sector operating costs increased by 40,5
the Authority’s efforts to close the digital divide. Dr. percent to record ZWL$2,9 billion from ZWL$2,08 billion.
Machengete said the sector will continue enabling other The increase in operating costs was less than revenue
sectors as envisioned in Government’s NDS1. He added: growth, across all markets.” Meanwhile, in 2020, the
“Prioritization of the sector in terms of Government internet penetration rate in Zimbabwe was 59,1 percent
expenditure, power availability, protection against and the Government intends ramp up the penetration
vandalism, resource mobilization, foreign currency rate by over 15 percent in the next two years. Further, the
availability among other issues is pertinent.” In terms mobile penetration rate is expected to grow from 94,2
of the total active mobile subscriptions, Dr. Machengete percent to 100 percent by 2025. The Government has
said it increased by four percent to reach 14,5 million challenged the postal and telecommunication sector
up from 14 million, hence, the mobile penetration rate to contribute to the growth trajectory by expanding
increased by 3,6 percent to reach 95,9 percent from their networks to include the under-served areas and
92,3 percent.” He said the total active internet and data bringing in international bandwidth to achieve the
subscriptions increased by 4,3 percent, while internet targeted internet penetration rate.
penetration rate increased by 2,6 percent to reach (December 13, 2022) www.samenacouncil.org
63,9 percent from 61,3 percent in line with the growth
in active subscriptions. Dr. Machengete added: “Total The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory
active fixed telephone lines increased by 2,8 percent. Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has awarded an
Hence, the fixed tele-density increased by 0,06 percent MVNO licence to Dolphin Telecoms, which aims to
to reach 1,92 percent from1,86 percent. Used incoming become the country’s first successful reseller after
international internet bandwidth capacity also increased other attempts to launch an MVNO failed to get off the
by 4,3 percent.” He said mobile voice traffic totaled 3,08 ground. A report from Zimbabwe Independent says
billion minutes and this represented a considerable Dolphin has secured a wholesale arrangement with
31,2 percent growth from 2,35 billion minutes recorded one of Zimbabwe’s three mobile network operators
in the second quarter of 2022. In terms of volumes, he (MNOs), though the identity of the partner was not
said total postal and courier volumes increased by 4,5 published. According to the report, Dolphin’s service will
percent to record 547 125 items from 523 342 items be available across ‘a large coverage area, built on the
recorded in the second quarter of 2022. Dr. Machengete partner’s extensive backbone’ and a commercial launch
said: “The growth in total mail volumes experienced is planned for later this year. Dolphin says it has so far
in the quarter under review comes after consecutive invested USD15 million in its Zimbabwe launch and it
periods of persistent contraction. The growth could be aims to offer users a highly customizable portfolio of
a sign of recovery for the postal and courier sector.” service bundles, while it will also target the financial
He said total mobile operator revenues grew by 103,9 services sector. Telecoms providers in Zimbabwe are
percent to record ZWL$61,39 billion from ZWL$30,1 current struggling to stay afloat amidst the country’s
billion, while Internet Access Provider (IAP) revenues ongoing economic crisis.
grew by 104,8 percent to record ZWL$30,86 billion from (November 1, 2022) www.commsupdate.com
ZWL$15,07 billion. Dr. Machengete said total revenue

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