Econet unveils US$20m upgrade plan

HARARE – Zimbabwean mobile phone provider Econet Wireless has launched a US$20 million (N$150 million) drive to upgrade services and almost double its subscriber base, an official said yesterday.

The firm will advance from voice and data transmission to a third-generation mobile broadband under the one-year project, financed through a loan from the Cairo-based African Export Import Bank. “By February 2007, we would have introduced the 3G facility, which is exciting technology as clients would have access to video calls, live televisions, faster downloads,” chief marketing officer Daniel Mandivenga said.Econet clients would be able to access Wifi, Wimax, GPRS, 3G and M-commerce technologies, Mandivenga said.The firm also aims to increase the number of subscribers from 485 495 to 800 000.”As a business we have to face the major challenges.If we do not do this, Zimbabwe will always be behind.We are not going to sit back and be satisfied,” he said.”In fact, we no longer compare ourselves to other local players, but we now compare ourselves to other regional firms like MTN,” he said referring to the South African telecommunications giant which has gained a foothold across the continent.Zimbabwe has three mobile service providers.Fixed-line services by the state-run operator are often erratic.The country’s economy has contracted by more than a third over the past seven years with an unemployment rate of 80 per cent according to unofficial estimates and a four-digit inflation rate.Nampa-AFP”By February 2007, we would have introduced the 3G facility, which is exciting technology as clients would have access to video calls, live televisions, faster downloads,” chief marketing officer Daniel Mandivenga said.Econet clients would be able to access Wifi, Wimax, GPRS, 3G and M-commerce technologies, Mandivenga said.The firm also aims to increase the number of subscribers from 485 495 to 800 000.”As a business we have to face the major challenges.If we do not do this, Zimbabwe will always be behind.We are not going to sit back and be satisfied,” he said.”In fact, we no longer compare ourselves to other local players, but we now compare ourselves to other regional firms like MTN,” he said referring to the South African telecommunications giant which has gained a foothold across the continent.Zimbabwe has three mobile service providers.Fixed-line services by the state-run operator are often erratic.The country’s economy has contracted by more than a third over the past seven years with an unemployment rate of 80 per cent according to unofficial estimates and a four-digit inflation rate.Nampa-AFP