Telecommunication
Infrastructure | Informatics | ICT Training and Development |
Broadcasting/Media
Telecommunication Infrastructure
The Posts and
Telecommunications Corporation (PTC) has monopoly on the provision of
telecommunications services, and there is currently no independent telecommunications
regulator in Zimbabwe. A new communications bill is expected to be presented to parliament
to facilitate the formation of a Communications Authority.
Teledensity:
- Total: 1.78
(1998)
- Largest cities:
7.52 (1998)
- Rest of the country:
0.87 (1998)
Digital main lines: 73.10%
(1998)
Waiting list for a telephone
line:
- Total: 109,000
(1998)
- Average waiting time:
4.2 years (1998)
- Total demand (k):
321.0 (1998)
- Satisfied demand (%):
66.0 (1998)
Telephone Tariffs :
| PSTN
connection charge - residential |
US$ 18 |
| PSTN
connection charge - business |
US$ 18 |
| PSTN
monthly subscription - residential |
US$ 2.0 |
| PSTN
monthly subscription - business |
US$ 2.0 |
| PSTN
three minute local call |
US$ 0.03 |
Source: World
Telecommunication Development Report, 1999
Public telephones: 2,500
(1998)
Public telephones per 1000
inhabitants: 0.20 (1998)
Mobile cellular subscribers:
55,000 (1998)
NetOne is the
major cellular radio and trunked radio operator owned by the PTC. It covers all the major
cities, namely Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo, Mutare, Kwekwe, Marondera and Chegutu,
with an estimated 19,000 subscribers. It has an international roaming agreement with
Vodacom of South Africa.
Telecel (Formerly
Net Two) had its license invalidated by the high court due to irregularities in the award
of the license. The government decided in February 1998 to grant back a license for a GSM
network to Telecel as along as Telecel would drop the pending court case. Telecel has
agreed with the proposal.
EcoNet (Enhanced Communications Network) has also been awarded a license for a
GSM network after a four year court battle. EcoNet provides international
roaming facility, and the tariff schedules look as follows (Details are the EcoNet site)
Tariff
Schedules expressed in Zimbabwe dollars (US$ 1.00 = Zim 38.1 as of May 1999)
Metered
Calls
-per minute charges from an Econet mobile phone |
BUSINESS |
CONSUMER |
Peak |
Off-Peak |
Off-Off Peak |
Peak |
Off-Peak |
Off-Off Peak |
Local
(Econet-PTC Network)
Anywhere in Zimbabwe |
3.85 |
3.45 |
2.50 |
4.25 |
3.55 |
2.50 |
| Econet to Econet Subscribers |
2.85 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
3.30 |
2.45 |
1.00 |
| Southern African Countries |
12.90 |
11.50 |
11.50 |
12.90 |
11.50 |
11.50 |
| UK and USA |
26.20 |
21.50 |
21.50 |
26.20 |
21.50 |
21.50 |
| VoiceMail Retrieval |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.75 |
2.75 |
2.75 |
Cellular subscribers as a %
of total telephone subscribers: 25.90 (1998)
Mobile cellular tariffs (1999):
| Connection
charge |
US$ 25 |
| Monthly
subscription |
US$ 4.22 |
| One
minute local call - peak |
US$ 0.20 |
| One
minute local call - off-peak |
US$ 0.17 |
Source: World
Telecommunication Development Report, 1999
Telecommunications revenue (M
US$): 135.60 (1998)
Telecommunications investment
(M US$): 130.0 (1998)
Telecommunications investment as
a % of revenue: 95.85 (1998)
Telecom equipment exports (M
US$): 1.9 (1997)
Telecom equipment imports (M
US$): 69.0 (1997)
Telecentres: na
Facsimiles: 4,100
(1998)
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Informatics
The Research Council of
Zimbabwe (RCZ) is a governmental body which promotes co-operative activities
among the scientific and industrial communities in Zimbabwe. The RCZ is responsible for
national academic and research networking in Zimbabwe.
ZimTrade, the National Trade Development Organisation of Zimbabwe (Harare),
provides effective market information and other trade promotion services which assist
Zimbabwe businesses in the development and expansion of profitable international trade in
products and services. ZimTrade receives financial assistance from the
European Union through the ZimTrade Support Programme.
The University of Zimbabwe hosts
to three e-mail systems: Zimbix, EsaNet and HealthNet. Zimbix, operated by the Computer Services
Department, is the primary network for most University staff and students on campus.
SADC
Centre of Communication for Development, with
support from FAO and in conjunction with the Southern Africa Development Community,
promotes the use of communications approaches, techniques and media for economic and
social progress throughout Southern Africa. The Centre hopes to launch an innovative
Internet Exchange, COMDEV-NET, shortly.
There are currently over 15 Internet Service Providers and a
number of e-mail networks.
Computer
per 100 inhabitants: 0.90 (1998)
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ICT
Training and Development
The SADC
Communication Centre develops training courses at four different levels:
- For high-level: the post-graduate
Professional Diploma Programme in Communication for Development
- For middle-level: communication
training modules for Pre-Service and In-Service Training of development staff by national
institutions
- For field-level: Training of
national project staff and communication professionals in design and implementation of
field communication programmes
- For client-specific needs:
Tailor-made communication workshops to fulfil special objectives of institutions and
clients
Zimbabwe-Interactive is owned by Global Village
Com Corp., an information technology company operating in both in the US and
inZimbabwe. Zimbabwe-Interactive has a mission to take the
lead in educating the public and the business community
at large on the applications of the Internet while providing the
Internet destination of choice within the Southern African Region through content
delivery, commerce facilitation & community building.
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Broadcasting/Media
Radio broadcasting: ZBC
(Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation)
- Radio 1
- Radio 2 (Shona &
Ndebele)
- Radio 3 (English, Shona
& Ndebele)
- Radio 4 (Shona, Ndebele,
English, Chewa, Tonga, Venda, Kalanga and Shangani)
Television broadcasting:
- TV1 (covering half
of the population) and TV2 (serving Harare and its suburbs) are run by
ZBC (Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation)
- Munhumutape African Broadcasting
Corporation
- Joy Television
Radios per
100 inhabitants: 8.9 (1995)
Television
receivers per 100 inhabitants: 2.90 (1998)
Pay TV
decoders: na
Cable TV
subscribers: na
Home
satellite dishes/antennas: na
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