NEW: Rising costs slow Zim’s mobile internet and data traffic
The Sunday Mail
online journalist
ZIMBABWE’s mobile internet and data traffic fell 15% to 22,052 terabytes in the first three months of this year, according to the latest data from the Zimbabwe Posts and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Potraz). .
According to the regulator’s first quarter performance report, the drop in internet and data traffic was recorded on all three mobile networks – NetOne, Econet and Telecel – due to high data prices.
The drop was also attributed to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, which saw the resumption of face-to-face interactions.
However, the number of active Internet and data subscriptions increased by 1.1% to 9.6 million as of March 31, 2022.
Mobile voice traffic decreased by 2.3% to 1.7 billion minutes during the period.
Total mobile network revenue was $28.8 billion, an increase of 10% from $26.2 billion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2021, with voice contribution to revenue decreasing to 42%, while that of mobile data rose to 39.3 percent from 38.1 percent.
Operating costs rose 22.7% to $17 billion from $3.1 billion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Bandwidth costs, personnel costs and depreciation remained the main cost drivers for mobile operators.
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