Government controlled Telecel Zimbabwe is to launch LTE services next month as it readies to tap into the country's data hungry market.

Telecel announced Thursday that the LTE network will be ready by the end of September.

"We have started to install LTE equipment in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare. This phase will be immediately followed by a country-wide deployment of this 4G technology," said Telecel Zimbabwe CEO Angeline Vere.

Telecel first announced the expansion and upgrade of its network to LTE capacity in May this year. The government has continued to invest in the mobile telecom firm after buying out VimpelCom's 60% stake last year.

"In addition to the LTE, Telecel will also be upgrading current sites as well as rolling out new 3G sites across the country," added Vere.

The other two mobile firms in Zimbabwe – Econet Wireless and NetOne – already offer LTE internet services.

Data has become a battle front for the Zimbabwean telecom companies that have started price wars in a bid to win over subscribers and promote usage of mobile internet.

Mobile data is also creeping up as a revenue contributor in light of declining income from traditional voice telephony services.

Telecel Zimbabwe introduced a new "mobile data product which will give our customers the ability to upload and download pictures, stream videos, download music and other social media related activities at high speeds" on a cheaper bundle.

This will come under the Unlimited Night Data Bundle option which is a promotional offering. NetOne also has a running promotional for data that gives subscribers unlimited data capacity.

"This product will be of particular interest to scholars who want to do online research," said Telecel Zimbabwe.