Zimbabwe’s biggest telecommunications company, Econet Wireless is expanding fast speed LTE internet coverage in the capital Harare and is gearing up to tap into data services.

Econet said in October that it had undertaken investment into 3G and LTE network deployment as well as data warehouse capabilities in the half year period to the end of August.

Capital expenditure for the period amounted to $46 million, with the data category contributing 16% to overall revenues for the period.
 
The company has added two new low density areas in Harare for LTE coverage. It has told ITWeb Africa that it now significantly covers Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls with LTE, with accessibility recently having been opened for mobile phones.
 
“Econet Wireless currently covers Greater Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls with LTE and plans to eventually extend coverage to other medium size and smaller cities in the coming months,” said Lovemore Nyatsine, executive assistant to CEO Douglas Mboweni.
 
Nyatsine said the expansion of LTE coverage was in response to a growing demand for fast internet speeds. However, Mboweni complained during a presentation to analysts in October that a 25% import duty on imports of mobile phones into the country had slowed down the uptake up of smartphones.
 
The company recently said it is undertaking a network modernisation program aimed at developing and internet (IP) core network. This would allow for further rapid expansion and roll-out of LTE internet coverage to more areas.