Zimbabwe’s second largest mobile operator, Telecel has introduced data roaming for subscribers on the company’s contract (post-paid) platforms.

According to Telecel the growing number of Zimbabweans travelling to neighbouring countries demand data roaming services.

Data roaming has previously been excluded from roaming services offered by most of the southern African nation’s telcos.

Econet recently introduced a roaming application downloadable on Google’s PlayStore and on Apple Store while state owned NetOne partnered South Africa’s MTN for subscribers travelling to SA.

The data roaming service introduced by Telecel will enable its contract network users to use its network to access data when travelling.

In Africa, Telecel says it had inked such roaming partnerships with operators in about seven countries, including Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique and Malawi.

“This … service is aimed at ensuring continued connectivity and convenience for our traveling customers so that they can use their local mobile number while abroad not only for voice calls but also for mobile data,” said Obert Mandimika, communications director for Telecel Zimbabwe.

All in all, Telecel has 360 operators it has signed voice roaming partnerships with and will be adding even more partners for the data roaming service, he added.

“International data roaming partners will ensure our customers do not have to experience the nuisance of being disconnected from their network while travelling.”

The international data roaming service has also been extended to the telcos’ pre-paid subscribers.

Zimbabwean telcos are increasingly prioritising investment and focus on data as a revenue driver in light of declining voice telephony turnover.