Zimbabwe's state owned fixed phone operator, TelOne, has launched a new mobile payment app and revamped dynamic website as part of a campaign to push online platforms and stimulate revenue growth.

This complements the company's existing fixed phone and internet services offering, including internet hotspots in major towns.

"In the six months that TelOne online platforms have been live, transactions worth $4 million have been facilitated," said TelOne MD Chipo Mtasa.

TelOne posted a US$17.7 million pre-tax profit for the full year to end August 2015, significantly up from the previous contrasting year's US$6.2 million in profits before tax. This followed a 7% rise in revenue to US$162 million.

The uptake of smartphones in urban areas is drawing companies to shore-up their presence through applications.

Mtasa said "given the trends we have seen since the going live of the TelOne online payment platforms, we are confident that the new user friendly website and mobile application will again improve revenues."

Network improvement

TelOne is to embark on a network modernisation project and will leverage a US$98 million facility from China's Exim Bank. The network upgrade, according to officials, is expected to begin in the last quarter of the year.

"We are happy to say we are expecting the first consignment of our equipment in the final quarter of the year and before Christmas we should be commissioning the first stage and phase two will come pretty close in Q1 2017," Mtasa added.

TelOne is also leaning on Avanti to boost its data offering platforms. The two companies said in a recent statement that "a lack of network infrastructure and affordable connectivity services available can create barriers for business growth, particularly for SMEs" operating in a hugely competitive market.