Huawei completes first phase of NetOne project

Huawei Technologies Africa says it has completed the first phase of the $200 million NetOne LTE broadband expansion project. The three-year project, which is expected to be completed in 2016, will see NetOne providing LTE services to its customers across Zimbabwe, resulting in wider broadband use in the country.

Statistics from the International Telecommunications Union show that in 2013, Zimbabwe's fixed broadband penetration stood at 0,7 percent, while the mobile broadband penetration rate was at 38 percent.

Huawei Technologies vice president Southern and Eastern African region David Wang said Huawei is helping NetOne build its nationwide wireless network and the total amount of the project is around $200 million.

Huawei, which entered the Zimbabwean market in 1999, currently provides a range of services in the country including provision of traditional telecommunications products, wireless network and software; provision of enterprise solutions for the public sector, and selling of devices.

Wang said although there was notable growth in broadband connectivity within countries across the African continent, there was need for broadband interconnectivity between countries.