Zimbabwe Network Seeks to Expand Coverage

Zimbabwe's smallest mobile network operator, Telecel says that it is planning for a significant expansion of its network coverage. The company says that it has already boosted capacity thanks to upgrading existing base station towers. Telecel Zimbabwe is owned by Egypt's Orascom Telecom.

The company recently released an additional 100,000 SIM cards onto the market following the network capacity upgrade.

“We will be targeting selected new geographic sites to extend out geographic coverage to most highway corridors, service centres and rural areas in addition to all major cities, towns, commercial and mining centres. (This) will result in even more lines being released onto the market,” the company said in a statement.

The SW Radio Africa news recently said that the cost of SIM cards has fallen to around $25 each.

The country currently has three mobile network operators. According to figures from the Mobile World analysts, Telecel is estimated to have ended last year with around 232,000 subscribers - representing a market share of around 15%.

South Africa's MTN Group was recently rumoured to be interested in taking a 60% stake in Telecel.

On the web: SW Radio Africa - Mobile World

Posted to the site on 1st June 2009