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State-owned mobile communications giant NetOne continues to sail above the rest in the mobile network operation industry after recording again a growth in mobile subscription.
This follows the statistics from the just-released POTRAZ (Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe) Sector Performance Report for the 3rd quarter in 2021.
The Abridged Sector Performance Report by the regulating authority revealed a 3,4% increase to 13,935,233 as of 30 September, from 13,481,527 recorded as of 30 June 2021.
The mobile penetration rate increased by 2.2% to reach 93.5% in the third quarter from 91.3% recorded in the second quarter of 2021. Of the increase in the whole sector, NetOne recorded the highest growth rate of 6.3%. Econet recorded slightly above 2% while Telecel recorded an insignificant growth of less than 1%.
NetOne’s spokesperson commented saying, “As part of our thrust to positively contribute towards Vision 2030, Making Zimbabwe a Middle-class Economy, we have taken a deliberate move to increase our subscriber base. Further this goal is in alignment with the National Development Strategy One, to digitalize the economy and facilitate access to ICT’s at the village level.
“ICTs are at the heart of the development of the Zimbabwean economy and as such we are directing all our efforts towards connecting the unconnected. We continue to invest in infrastructure to make sure that there is increased network coverage to previously marginalized areas.”
The growth trajectory by the state-owned giant has been sustained by the growth in infrastructure against the competition. The same POTRAZ quarterly report for the postal and telecommunications sector indicates that NetOne has gained a market share of 2G, 3G, and LTE by 0.1 percent, 0.4 percent, and 2.2 percent respectively.
“We are pleased to let the public know that we are serious about the mandate they have given us, to be their digital communication solutions partner,” said NetOne CEO, Mr. Raphael Mushanawani.
In the third quarter of 2021, NetOne deployed a total of over 50 new base stations. Recently, the company introduced new innovations in the market that were driven by smart technologies.
NetOne has been continuously enhancing its product and services portfolio to suit the lifestyle of its customers. To those following its journey, the company celebrated its 25th anniversary and has further cemented its position as the Number One Digital Solutions network.
“We are happy to have added a number of innovations into the basket this last quarter. Our innovation drive has seen NetOne introducing OneMoney Remit – a much-needed financial inclusion solution that has made domestic forex remittance possible. Other Smart Solutions include Hurudza/Umlimi Omkhulu, an e-agriculture platform that supports the farming community.
“Another innovation in the basket is OneHealth, a platform that allows customers to get smart health solutions on the go. This is after we appreciated the times that we are in, especially with the effects of Covid-19. Our commitment to enhancing digital literacy saw us launching the Dzidzo/Ifundo platform for university students to access e-learning. NetOne has also staked its claim in the hugely profitable mobile gaming market through OneGaming.
“We fully understand the need to embrace the digital sphere and commit to equipping future generations with relevant ICT solutions. We are grateful for the support from our various stakeholders including the government through the Ministry of ICT,” Mr. Mushanawani added.
