Zimbabwe has recorded a 7.5% rise in internet penetration last year to 62.9% as ADSL and fibre connections improved.
The country’s internet penetration rate has been hovering circa 50 percent for the past decade or so, despite the growing significance of internet in all spheres of life.
According to IGI Global, the internet penetration rate refers to “the portion of the population that has access to the Internet. It defines a portion of the digital divide.”
According to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ)’s 2018 report:
“The internet penetration rate increased by 7.5% to reach 62.9% from 55.4%. Leased lines and WiMAX subscriptions have been gradually declining as the uptake of ADSL and Fibre improves.”
The 2018 numbers also showed that the total number of active internet subscriptions as at the end of that period were 8,723,242, which was a 13.4% growth from 7,690,134 recorded in the third quarter of 2018.
The total equipped incoming international internet bandwidth capacity declined by 0.4% to record 113,405Mbps from 113,870 recorded in the third quarter of 2018.
Used incoming international internet bandwidth capacity also declined by 0.8% to reach 84,683Mbps from 85,333Mbps recorded in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter of last year, Liqiud Telecom (an Econet Wireless subsidiary) accounted for 61.1% of Used International Incoming Bandwidth Capacity, while TelOne accounted for 32.2%, while the balance was taken up by Powertel and Dandemutande at 4% and 2.7%, respectively.
“An annual comparison shows that equipped incoming international internet connectivity grew by 11.1% to record 113,405Mbps in 2018 from 103,080Mbps recorded in 2017. Used international incoming internet bandwidth capacity also grew by 76.4% to reach 84,683Mbps in 2018 from 48,017 Mbps recorded in 2017,” highlighted the POTRAZ report.
There was an overall growth in IAP revenue and investment in the fourth quarter of 2018, with revenues rising to $69.6 million from $61.5 million previously.
Investment from the IAP also rose to $20.8 million from $15.3 million as the companies moved to enhance their capacities.
Looking into the future, POTRAZ is pinning hopes on internet growth to drive Zimbabwe’s telecommunications sector going forward.
Data and internet services will continue to drive industry growth, exceeding the revenue contribution of voice service. The use of Over-the-Top services is expected to grow as consumers cut back on personal expenditure.