New Report: Zimbabwe - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Market Insights and Statistics

Executive summary

Zimbabwe's revised 2015 ICT policy ready to be submitted. Zimbabwe's economy continues to recover from a decade of recession under gross mismanagement by the country's political leaders. The normalisation of Zimbabwe's economy is reflected in the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) forecast of continuous annual GDP growth at around 4% from 2014 onwards. Despite the overall economic difficulties in recent years, the telecom sector has shown considerable promise since the government allowed foreign currencies as alternative legal tender. Mobile penetration has increased more than seven-fold within four years and broke the 100% penetration barrier in 2013 on the back of 3G mobile broadband subscriptions.

The three mobile networks Econet, NetOne and Telecel Zimbabwe are investing in network upgrades to support data services and their fast-expanding m-commerce and m-banking facilities.

NetOne's parent, TelOne (formerly PTC) still holds a de-facto monopoly on fixed-line services in the country. The government is planning to privatise up to 60% of TelOne and NetOne, either through an IPO or a strategic partnership with a foreign investor. TelOne has been awarded the country's fourth mobile licence but hasn't launched a service yet.

Limitations in international bandwidth for the landlocked country for many years held back development of the internet and broadband sectors, but this has changed since fibre optic links to several submarine cables have been established via neighbouring territories. Massive expansion of 3G mobile broadband services across the country has meant that more than half of the population now has access to the internet. The first commercial LTE services were launched in 2013, while investment in LTE technologies, for which the regulator has assigned spectrum, continues.

Estimated market penetration rates in Zimbabwe's telecoms sector-end-2014

MarketPenetration rate

Mobile 128%

Fixed 2%

Internet 64%

(Source: BuddeComm based on various sources)

Key develpments:

New ICT policy to be submitted, revising the 2010 plan

Regulator reduces mobile voice tariffs effective from January 2015

ICT Ministry revokes Telecel's licence for failing to pay $137.5 million debt and licence fee

TelOne providing satellite broadband with Avanti Communications

Renegotiated USF contribution hampering the regulators ability to resource $62 million in mobile and broadband projects

Telecel Zimbabwe launches Telecash mobile money service

Government increases licensing tax, imposes additional levies and a customs tax on mobile handset sales

Mobile and broadband market continue strong growth

TelOne and NetOne privatisation planned

Fourth mobile licence in progress

Report update includes regulator's market data to September 2014, telcos' operating and financial data, recent market developments.Companies mentioned in this report:TelOne; NetOne; Econet; Telecel; TeleAccess; Afritell; Liquid Telecom; DataOne; Powertel Communications; Telco Internet; Broadlands Networks; Aquiva; Africa Online; ComOne; Ecoweb; iWay Africa (MWEB); Zimbabwe Online (ZOL); Zimbabwe Internet Service Provider Association (ZISPA); Telecontract; Dandemutande (uMax); Aptics.

This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Zimbabwe's telecommunications market. The report analyses the mobile, internet, broadband, digital TV and converging media sectors. Subjects include

Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;

Facts, figures and statistics

Industry and regulatory issues

Infrastructure developments

Major Players, Revenues, Subscribers, ARPU, MoU

Internet, VoIP, IPTV

Mobile Voice and Data Markets

Broadband (FttP, DSL, cable, wireless)

Convergence and Digital Media

Government policies affecting the telecoms industry

Market liberalisation and industry issues

Telecoms operators-privatisation, IPOs, acquisitions, new licences

Mobile technologies (GSM; 3G, HSPA, LTE).

http://www.marketresearchint.com/fixed-line-telecommunications-market-research-reports/zimbabwe-telecoms-mobile-and-broadband-market-insights-and-statistics/ref/cd/