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Zimbabwe govt defends Starlink rollout
2 hrs ago |
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The Zimbabwean government has defended the entry of satellite internet provider Starlink, saying increased competition is essential to expanding connectivity and advancing the country's goal of building a digitally driven economy by 2030.
The issue was raised in Parliament during a question-and-answer session, where Witness Jonga questioned whether Zimbabwe's growing population and rising mobile phone usage required more service providers to improve access to affordable internet and mobile services.
Jonga noted that Zimbabwe's population has exceeded 15 million, according to the 2022 census, yet the telecommunications sector remains dominated by a small number of operators - Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, NetOne, and Telecel Zimbabwe - with Telecel reportedly struggling to remain competitive.
Responding to the concerns, ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera said the government's priority is not necessarily to increase the number of telecom companies, but to expand access through infrastructure development and the adoption of new technologies, including satellite-based internet services.
She said the licensing of Starlink is part of a broader strategy to improve connectivity, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
"It is not an issue of adding more companies, but as a government, we do not have a problem with having several players in that particular industry," she said.
Mavetera added that government is working with existing operators, including TelOne, NetOne and Econet, on broadband mapping initiatives aimed at identifying areas with weak or no network coverage.
She also revealed that a "tower relocation" programme is being implemented through the Universal Services Fund administered by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), with the aim of shifting infrastructure from over-served urban areas to marginalised communities.
The programme is intended to improve network distribution and close the connectivity gap between urban and rural regions as Zimbabwe pushes toward its digital economy targets by 2030.
The issue was raised in Parliament during a question-and-answer session, where Witness Jonga questioned whether Zimbabwe's growing population and rising mobile phone usage required more service providers to improve access to affordable internet and mobile services.
Jonga noted that Zimbabwe's population has exceeded 15 million, according to the 2022 census, yet the telecommunications sector remains dominated by a small number of operators - Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, NetOne, and Telecel Zimbabwe - with Telecel reportedly struggling to remain competitive.
Responding to the concerns, ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera said the government's priority is not necessarily to increase the number of telecom companies, but to expand access through infrastructure development and the adoption of new technologies, including satellite-based internet services.
She said the licensing of Starlink is part of a broader strategy to improve connectivity, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
"It is not an issue of adding more companies, but as a government, we do not have a problem with having several players in that particular industry," she said.
Mavetera added that government is working with existing operators, including TelOne, NetOne and Econet, on broadband mapping initiatives aimed at identifying areas with weak or no network coverage.
She also revealed that a "tower relocation" programme is being implemented through the Universal Services Fund administered by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), with the aim of shifting infrastructure from over-served urban areas to marginalised communities.
The programme is intended to improve network distribution and close the connectivity gap between urban and rural regions as Zimbabwe pushes toward its digital economy targets by 2030.
Source - BusinessDaily
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