Zimbabwe state-owned fixed line operator TelOne is struggling to collect money owed to it.

TelOne runs fixed line phone and internet services in the country.

Chipo Mutasa, the TelOne chief executive officer, said at a press briefing in Harare on Wednesday that it is owed about $190 million by its clients in outstanding service bills.

Of this amount, government parastatals and departments owe the company about $40 million.

“We are collecting around $7 million to $8 million per month instead of $15 million,” said Mutasa.

TelOne; though, is among Zimbabwean trade and infrastructure companies benefiting from a $60 million loan facility brokered by Standard Chartered and Afreximbank.

Part of the loan is intended to help TelOne build out telecommunications infrastructure.

“We have a network replacement and modernisation project where we are going to replace our entire network. We will also offer data services that will be linked to the billing and customer relationship management system,” said Mutasa.

About $90 million would be required to fund this project, which will see the company lay fibre optic cables throughout the country to boost broadband internet accessibility.

The government is approaching international financiers for such projects, with any possible funding likely to be directed to TelOne and sister government cellphone company, NetOne.