Online Reporter
Michael Tome
Business Reporter
Mobile internet traffic surged 19,2 percent to 78,38 petabytes in the third quarter of 2024, an increase from the 65,75 petabytes recorded in the previous quarter, reflecting growing of internet-based communication platforms the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) said.
Conversely, voice traffic volume contracted by 7,46 percent to 2,81 billion minutes in the third quarter, down from 3,04 billion minutes.
POTRAZ said in its 2024 Postal and Telecommunications Sector Abridged Performance Report.
Mobile applications like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram and FaceTime offer users attractive alternatives for voice and video calls, diminishing the reliance on traditional voice calling services.
Furthermore, improvements in internet connectivity and speeds, coupled with the widespread adoption of smartphones, have empowered users to seamlessly transition to data-driven communication for various needs, including voice calls through internet platforms.
Service providers have introduced more affordable data packages to encourage usage.
POTRAZ, which regulates the telecommunications and courier services sector said the surge in mobile internet and data traffic witnessed in recent years can be attributed to several key factors including improved network infrastructure, a significant increase in 4G and 5G deployments, the flourishing of e-commerce and e-learning services, and heightened engagement with social media platforms.
Econet posted 23,30 percent growth in traffic to 59,7 petabytes from 48,4 petabytes in the previous quarter, followed by NetOne whose internet data traffic increased 7,91 percent to 18,3 petabytes from 17 petabytes in the previous quarter. Telecel recorded a sight growth of 0,71 percent.
Both inbound and outbound roaming data traffic experienced substantial growth during the reviewed quarter, with increases of 20,13 percent and 40,15 percent, respectively.
Total inbound data roaming traffic surged to 14,746,229 MB from 12,275,345 MB, while total outbound data roaming traffic reached 324,758 MB, up from 231,727 MB.
The significant growth in inbound data roaming traffic can be attributed to the influx of tourists and visits from foreign nationals during this period.
While outbound data roaming traffic remains relatively low compared to inbound figures, the notable uptick may indicate an increase in international travel by Zimbabwean citizens.
These trends are underpinned by a surge in internet penetration, which climbed by 4,97 percentage points to reach 83,52 percent, up from 78,55 percent in the previous quarter.
Similarly, broadband penetration surged by 5,43 percentage points to 81,65 percent in the third quarter, compared to 76.22 percent in the prior quarter.
A key driver of the growth is the remarkable 200 percent increase in the number of deployed 5G base stations, which climbed to 81 from 27.
Econet and NetOne spearheaded this expansion, deploying an additional 42 and 12 base stations, respectively.
