AudiencScapes

Major telecom companies are trying to outdo each other as they battle for a share of Zimbabwe’s mobile broadband internet market. Despite the new services being offered, concerns persist about the reliability of high-speed connections.

By Tawanda Karombo

Harare, Zimbabwe—Three Zimbabwean telecommunications companies are scrambling for a share of the country’s mobile broadband internet market.

Giant mobile operator Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, state-controlled Powertel (a division of TelOne) and rebranded internet services company Africom have all launched or re-launched their portable broadband internet packages for home, mobile and business use. Broadband offers a high rate of data transmission over the internet.

The mobile broadband market is relatively small in Zimbabwe. If these services turn out to be more reliable than other types of connectivity, the telecom companies are betting that most businesses who depend on high-speed internet connectivity might switch. The availability of mobile broadband is crucial for the revival of Zimbabwe’s economy and could be the missing link in attracting foreign and other outside investment.

Rolling Out New Products

Two weeks ago, Econet launched a US$100 million broadband internet package for both mobile, home and work. Chief executive officer Douglas Mboweni told journalists at a briefing that the company had embarked on a reconfiguration drive to expand and improve its 3G mobile internet service. He said Econet will be offering broadband internet to subscribers with data capable mobile phones. Econet has also launched a home-usage broadband internet package.

Top-end internet users, mainly consisting of business executives and marketing companies, will be offered Econet’s business package, dubbed “@work.” Mboweni says that this package offers high broadband capacity and is capable of high speeds.

Also in the past week, Africom unveiled a pre-paid mobile broadband internet package. Africom, which has been running full-page gloss advertisements, sent an e-mail to various subscribers and stakeholders who had been put on the company’s one-month free broadband internet promotional, saying the service was ready for commercial use and that they should bring in their modems for activation.

Assessing Reliability and Speed

Consumer reaction to these new products has been less-than enthusiastic. Writing on the website, Technology Zimbabwe, web-developer and online editor Fungai Tichawangana complained that none of these internet platforms is reliable yet.

“We have FOUR internet connections at the office. WiMAX through Yo Africa and wireless connections through Powertel, Econet and as of last week, Africom,” wrote Tichawangana in his article, “No Real Broadband Yet in Zimbabwe”.

Tichawangana explained that his company uses so many connections “because none of them provide satisfactory connectivity and none of them really feel like broadband.” He complained that there are “times when ALL FOUR (internet connections) are down” and that sometimes “the speeds slow down greatly during the day.”

Many Econet subscribers are also unhappy with the service. Hundreds have complained to the company about its unreliable internet service. Several others thronged the company’s offices in Harare to register their disappointment. Attempts by AudienceScapes to reach Econet’s communications manager Rangarirai Mberi have remained unanswered despite numerous follow ups.

Apart from Econet, Powertel and Africom, there are a host of other companies now offering both mobile and fixed broadband internet and Wi-Fi internet. These include Yo Africa, Zimbabwe Online (ZOL) and Africa Online.

Photo Courtesy of Kiwanja

Tawanda Karombo is a freelance journalist living in Zimbabwe. He has previously written for The Financial Gazette (Business and Financial Weekly in Zimbabwe), MoneyWeb (South African Investment and Financial web publication) and The Zimbabwe Gazette (Online news publication about Zimbabwe) among others.

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