Page 143 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory and affordability, the operators will need tariffs that
Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) will allow allow them to provide services on the other hand
telecommunication network operators to adjust tariffs consumers have to be able to afford the service. “So
in tandem with rising costs to ensure sustainability of that balancing will continue, and we only hope that
operations in the sector. However, the telecoms something will be done on the incomes side so that at
Zimbabwe regulator said it would remain cautious of the need to least the balancing act can be easier for us. “This is an

guarantee service affordability for subscribers given issue we think we will continue to debate so that we
that disposable incomes remain under pressure. Potraz find equilibrium where the operators are happy and
said the rising cost of operations prompted it to also the consumers are happy,” said Dr Machengete. In
approve data and voice call price increases by fixed the third quarter, NetOne gained 0,7 percentage points
and mobile network operators, which has elicited of market share to 31,4 percent while Econet and
complaints from subscribers, as disposable incomes Telecel shed 0,2 and 0,5 percentage points to 64,9 and
remain low. Resultantly, Potraz’s 2021 fourth-quarter 3,7 percent, respectively. However, the telecoms
sector performance report saw a 13,8 percent decline sector’s full-year performance for 2021 saw all traffic
in national voice traffic while the international outgoing categories registering growth except for fixed voice,
voice calls traffic retreated by 1,9 percent compared to which posted a decline of 5,1 percent. Internet traffic
third-quarter. Similarly, mobile data traffic declined by dominated growth at 97,2 percent, which was driven by
3,5 percent to 24,9 terabytes compared to the third an 8,1 percent growth in mobile data subscriptions and
quarter’s traffic of 25,9 terabytes. The industry 7,3 percent growth in new internet customers compared
regulator said the downturn in volumes for the fourth to 2020. Deployment of 335 new base stations,
quarter of 2021 was the only period the sector had particularly LTE, also contributed to the growth in
recorded a decline in mobile internet and data traffic overall internet traffic in 2021, as it led to marginal
last year. Presenting the 2021 postal and improvements in population coverage. As such,
telecommunications sector performance, Potraz revenue grew across all service markets. Mobile
Director General, Dr. Gift Machengete said fixed and telephony grew 46,1 percent to $97 billion, in inflation-
mobile telephone tariffs had overtime been increased adjusted terms, while Internet Access Providers (IAPs)
to maintain viability. However, Dr. Machengete noted revenue paced fastest at 51,1 percent to $35,5 billion.
that while players have moved to address increasing Fixed telephone revenue improved by 42,8 percent for
cost of operating, subscribers’ disposable incomes the year to $11,3 billion, in inflation-adjusted terms,
had not kept pace with the price adjustments, which he while the postal and courier segment revenue registered
hoped would improve in future. “We are still going to modest growth at $1,95 billion, a 37,9 percent jump.
have issues to do with the balancing act of our tariffs (April 17, 2022) herald.co.zw

143 MARCH-APRIL 2022