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Mobile telecommunication companies NetOne and Econet Wireless Zimbabwe have adjusted promotional bundles in response to rising operating costs.
State-owned mobile service provider NetOne reviewed its data tariffs on Tuesday while Econet announced it will adjust its prices on Thursday. Telecel, the country’s third mobile operator, is expected to follow suit any time this week.
“Please be advised that we are reviewing our bundle tariffs with effect from 19 October 2021,” NetOne said in a statement.
According to industry sources, the tariff increase – averaging 30 percent on data, voice and SMS bundles – comes at a time when fuel prices have gone up while the country is also experiencing high power outages, thus pushing operating costs through the roof.
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) director general Dr Gift Machengete recently said the telecoms industry’s operating costs grew by 15.8% to ZW$8.9 billion in the second quarter of 2021, up from ZW$7.6 billion in the first quarter.
It said Econet’s operating costs increased by 16.2%, from ZW$5.6 billion to ZW$6.6 billion, while NetOne and Telecel operating costs surged by 10.2% and 42.1% respectively.
“Staff costs, depreciation, and bandwidth costs continued to constitute the bulk of mobile network operating costs,” Dr Machengete said.
The Potraz boss added that it was important for the sector, which continues to be critical in keeping the economy running in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic by providing businesses with essential connectivity and resilience, to charge competitive tariffs and recoup their costs.
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