Zimbabwean internet service providers are expanding their coverage beyond capital city, Harare, to increase the country’s access to internet.
Analysts say this move could bring investment opportunities in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the country.
The Zimbabwe All Media Products and Services Survey (ZAMPS) released a survey at the end of last year that showed that out of the country’s 13 million people some 1.2 million have access to the internet.
Accessibility to the internet, according to this survey, is either through work computers, at home, internet cafes or through mobile devices.
The ZAMPS survey results also indicated that internet usage in Zimbabwe is used for communication either for personal or business purposes.
“Online banking is increasingly becoming popular and most of the local banks now have online banking platforms and this can be seen from notices by most banks saying they are upgrading their IT systems,” said an economic research analyst at an advisory firm.
One company that is planning to expand its mobile internet services is Africom, with plans to use a mobile modem, beyond Harare.
Rudo Mudavanhu, an executive at Africom said her company has now set-up base stations in other towns and cities such as Gweru, Kwekwe and Beitbridge, the border town with South Africa.
She confirmed that the expansion project that the company has embarked on could enhance Africom’s service offering “to greater demographics and keep service quality excellent in areas with greater usage”.
According to Mudavanhu plans are underway for Africom to also expand the company’s internet services to Zimbabwe’s resort areas like Hwange, Victoria Falls, Kariba and Mutare.
Economist, Johannes Kwangwari, says there is great potential for investment in Zimbabwe’s ICT and internet sectors as the number of people with access to the internet is “still small”.
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