Technology / Mobile phone
Less people in Zim now use landlines
28 May 2012 at 21:55hrs | Views
THE number of landline telephone users in the country has decreased in recent years with the country now having 25 mobile phone users for each landline telephone user.
Although there was an increase in the number of landline users from 356 000 last year to 373 000 this year, the fixed line tele-density is 2,8 percent.
Tele-density measures the number of active mobile Sim cards and landlines as a percentage of the country's total population.
Zimbabwe's population is estimated to be 12 571 454.
According to figures from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz), mobile phones have become the primary means of communication with landlines now mostly used by businesses and companies.
Without giving statistics, Potraz director general Engineer Charles Sibanda said the majority of the country's population had migrated from landline to mobile phones after being disconnected by TelOne, the service provider.
"The total mobile subscribers for the first quarter of 2012 is 9 537 434, which translates to a mobile tele-density percentage of 75 percent compared to 2,8 percent (373 000) fixed telephone subscribers," said Eng Sibanda.
The growth in subscriber base, especially mobile phones, is mainly attributed to heavy investment in the development of telecommunications infrastructure and adoption of new technology by Zimbabweans.
The subscriber base for mobile phones, which comprise Econet Wireless, Telecel Zimbabwe and NetOne, has been constantly rising with the total number of registered subscribers now 9 537 434, up from 9 295 530 early this month.
Thousands of landline users were disconnected by TelOne for outstanding bills and have not reconnected and now use mobile phones.
Broadacom, a new mobile service provider that was launched in March, is reportedly still building on its subscriber base as there is no information yet at Potraz.
Eng Sibanda said Broadacom would also offer mobile and fixed telephone service due to convergence of technologies and services.
"Broadacom is a licensed Class A internet service provider. They are licensed to offer internet access and Voice Over Internet Protocol and due to convergence of technologies and services, it is possible for them to offer mobile and fixed services," said Eng Sibanda.
The introduction of mobile internet service and wireless internet in the past months has seen the demand for mobile lines increasing as more people including schoolchildren are now connected to mobile internet on portable devices.
According to Potraz, the total number of internet subscribers is 2 291 909 while fixed internet users are about 35 441 compared to 2 256 468 mobile internet subscribers.
Mobile network operators have also increased the number of services ranging from internet, data bundles, emergency credits, cash transfers which landline service providers could not provide thereby making mobile Sim cards a choice for many.
Efforts to get a comment from TelOne public relations officer Ms Rose Sande were fruitless as her mobile phone was not reachable.
Although there was an increase in the number of landline users from 356 000 last year to 373 000 this year, the fixed line tele-density is 2,8 percent.
Tele-density measures the number of active mobile Sim cards and landlines as a percentage of the country's total population.
Zimbabwe's population is estimated to be 12 571 454.
According to figures from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz), mobile phones have become the primary means of communication with landlines now mostly used by businesses and companies.
Without giving statistics, Potraz director general Engineer Charles Sibanda said the majority of the country's population had migrated from landline to mobile phones after being disconnected by TelOne, the service provider.
"The total mobile subscribers for the first quarter of 2012 is 9 537 434, which translates to a mobile tele-density percentage of 75 percent compared to 2,8 percent (373 000) fixed telephone subscribers," said Eng Sibanda.
The growth in subscriber base, especially mobile phones, is mainly attributed to heavy investment in the development of telecommunications infrastructure and adoption of new technology by Zimbabweans.
The subscriber base for mobile phones, which comprise Econet Wireless, Telecel Zimbabwe and NetOne, has been constantly rising with the total number of registered subscribers now 9 537 434, up from 9 295 530 early this month.
Thousands of landline users were disconnected by TelOne for outstanding bills and have not reconnected and now use mobile phones.
Broadacom, a new mobile service provider that was launched in March, is reportedly still building on its subscriber base as there is no information yet at Potraz.
Eng Sibanda said Broadacom would also offer mobile and fixed telephone service due to convergence of technologies and services.
"Broadacom is a licensed Class A internet service provider. They are licensed to offer internet access and Voice Over Internet Protocol and due to convergence of technologies and services, it is possible for them to offer mobile and fixed services," said Eng Sibanda.
The introduction of mobile internet service and wireless internet in the past months has seen the demand for mobile lines increasing as more people including schoolchildren are now connected to mobile internet on portable devices.
According to Potraz, the total number of internet subscribers is 2 291 909 while fixed internet users are about 35 441 compared to 2 256 468 mobile internet subscribers.
Mobile network operators have also increased the number of services ranging from internet, data bundles, emergency credits, cash transfers which landline service providers could not provide thereby making mobile Sim cards a choice for many.
Efforts to get a comment from TelOne public relations officer Ms Rose Sande were fruitless as her mobile phone was not reachable.
Source - Chronicle
