The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has invited bids for the deployment of 100 wireless base stations in rural areas to improve mobile network coverage. The rollout will be financed by the Universal Services Fund (USF), with the base stations to be made available for use by the country’s three cellcos, Econet Wireless, NetOne and Telecel.
A statement from the regulator said: ‘The project is planned to be implemented as a turnkey vendor-financed Build and Transfer joint venture agreement. The supplier undertakes the financing and construction of the project and after its completion hands it over to POTRAZ. POTRAZ reimburses the total project investment on the basis of an agreed schedule.’