Zimbabweans dump internet bundles

By Staff reporter | 06 Oct 2019 at 22:34hrs
Potraz
INTERNET data bundles and voice call purchases have experienced a sharp decline as cash-strapped Zimbabweans now opt for the cheaper short message service (SMS), Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) director-general Gift Machengete has revealed.

Prices of basic goods and other commodities continue to rise sharply, amid relentless power blackouts and water shortages, making life exceedingly hard for struggling citizens and businesses.

"The 1,1 percent (91 000) decline in total active data and Internet subscriptions is attributable to the depressed demand in the economy," Machengete said.
He added that mobile data and Internet traffic also declined by 8,2 percent.

"What this means is that, it could actually be a function of affordability where now a lot of people prefer to use free Wifi," said Machengete.

Despite the declining Internet data bundles and voice call purchases, Potraz would be setting new tariffs for data, voice calls and SMS to cushion mobile network operators and Internet service providers from inflationary pressures.

"Fuel is going up and also everything else. Obviously there is no way that we cannot review (tariffs).

"If you recall when we came up with the new tariffs at the end of August we said we were going to be looking at these tariffs and review them as we go.

"Definitely you will see some changes; you will see some reviews. There is no way we can just sit and watch, otherwise the sector will collapse on our hands and we don't want that to happen.

"We will make sure that we do a delicate balance on the tariffs so that operators can continue to operate," said Machengete during a question and answer session after presenting the Telecommunication Sector Second Quarter report recently.

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