Audrey Galawu
The Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe has reported a 0.7% decline in active mobile subscriptions from for the second quarter of 2023 from 14 051 251 to 13 955 937.
This translates to a 0.7% decline in mobile penetration rate to reach 91.9% from 92.6% recorded in the first quarter of 2023.
The sector also recorded a 0.2% decline in the total number of active Internet and data subscriptions to reach 9 902 500 from 9 920 847 recorded in the first quarter of the year.
In a Postal and Telecommunications performance report, Potraz director general Gift Kallisto Machengete reported a decline for the internet penetration rate by 0.2% to reach 65.2% from 65.4% recorded in the previous quarter.
“Total active fixed telephone lines increased by 3.2% to reach 301 465 in the second quarter of 2023, from 292 253 recorded in the first quarter of the year.
“Total mobile operator revenues also grew by 170.5% to record ZWL$435.7 billion from ZWL$161.1 billion recorded in the previous quarter.
“On the other hand, operating costs grew by 109.9% to record ZWL$215.8 billion, from ZWL$102.8 billion recorded in the first quarter of 2023,” reads the report.
Machengete stated the quarter under review was characterised by high inflationary temperatures that were felt across all the sectors.
The sector operator revenues and operating costs surged by margins over 100% across all sub-sectors of the postal and telecommunications industry.
“Most of the operators incurred operating costs growth which was more than their revenue growth in the second quarter of 2023.
“This directly means that most operators made losses in the trading quarter. As in its nature, the telecoms industry requires huge capital outlays across networks, this cannot be achieved whilst the sector operators are running losses,” he said.
The director-general said the challenges call for policy and strategic intervention at both sector and national levels.
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