Fast becoming a connected country

Zimbabwe is fast leap-frogging from outdated land line communications to sophisticated data networks – and in the process opening the country up to business. A rapid roll-out of fibre optic and wireless data networks is good news for the freight industry, which relies on communication technology to transfer documents, arrange shipments, make payments and track loads. The market is also being opened up for smaller players, as companies no longer need expensive satellite connections to be in contact with the rest of the world. For truckers, it means that vehicles and drivers can be contacted through a rapidly expanding network. A local SIM card costs US$2, and the user can make calls as soon as he or she boots up the phone with the card. Airtime is sold everywhere, including street corners. Truckers with drivers going through Zimbabwe could save on communications by having Zimbabwean SIM cards or a dedicated phone. Electronic communication with medium to smaller companies is still limited by what are effectively dial-up connections, but that is changing fast. Newcomer Aquiva Wireless is investing US$7.2-million in 92 base stations for broadband internet. The older networks, Africom, Ecoweb, PowerTel, Telecontract and TelOne, are also investing in order to remain competitive. Costs will soon come down to the point where companies will be able to abandon their aged and unreliable land-line connections for wireless – putting Zimbabwe ahead of many parts of South Africa in terms of having reliable, high-speed voice and data links.