FIXED BROADBANDIN ZIMBABWE
Presentation by
Honourable S. Mandiwanzira
Connect 2 Connect Summit
19 July 2016, Pretoria, South Africa
Provision of fixed broadband in Zimbabwe
Fixed (wired) broadband is offered in Zimbabwe through the
following technologies:
1) Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
2) Optic Fibre (FTTX)
3) Leased Lines
FTTX Fibre is offered by a total of 5 Internet Access Providers i.e.
Liquid, TelOne, Powertel, Africom, Dandemutande and Telecontract.
ADSL is offered by 1 operator, TelOne.
Leased Lines are offered by 3 Internet Access Providers TelOne,
Liquid and Telecontract
Growth of Fibre
Fibre subscriptions have been on an upward trajectory with thebiggest leap being experienced in 2015 as shown below:
Growth of fibre subscriptions in Zimbabwe
• CURRENT Zimbabwe FIBRE Backbone
BULAWAYO
HARARECHINHOYI
Makuti
Karoi
Mt Darwin
Beatrice
Chivu
Mvuma
Lalapanzi
Shurugwi
Rutenga
Hwange
Gwaai
Nyamandhlovu
Dete
Mutoko
Kadoma
Chegutu
Rusape
Gokwe
Kariba
Vic Falls
Raffingora
Chitungwiza
Figtree
GWERU
MASVINGO
Beitbridge
To SOUTH AFRICA
To BOTSWANA
To ZAMBIA
To MOZAMBIQUEMUTARE
To MALAWI
Livingstone
Powertel
Key
Rushinga
Nyamapanda
Marondera
Cecil Kop
Plumtree
Kwekwe
ChakariNembudziya
Binga
Chipinge
BBG
Chimanimani
ChiredziTriangle
Checheche
Nyanga
Current National
Backbone
Turk Mine
Sanyati
Chirundu
Kanyemba
Gwanda
W Nicholson
Esigodhini
Filabusi
Centenary
Liquid
TelOne
Africom
Proposed Backbone
Chikwalakwala
Mazoe
Bindura
Muzarabani
Mhangura
Antelope Mine
GutuHot Springs
Mbizi
Inyathi
Thuli
RedCliff
Shamva
Murewa
Siyakobvu
Siyabuwa
Zvishavane
HwedzaKamativi
To ZAMBIA
To Namibia
To MOZAMBIQUE
• Zimbabwe Proposed Fibre Backbone
BULAWAYO
HARARECHINHOYI
Makuti
Karoi
Mt Darwin
Beatrice
Chivu
Mvuma
Lalapanzi
Shurugwi
Rutenga
Hwange
Gwaai
Nyamandhlovu
Dete
Mutoko
Kadoma
Chegutu
Rusape
Gokwe
Kariba
Vic Falls
Raffingora
Chitungwiza
Figtree
GWERU
MASVINGO
Beitbridge
To SOUTH AFRICA
To BOTSWANA
To ZAMBIA
To MOZAMBIQUEMUTARE
To MALAWI
Livingstone
Fibre
Key
Rushinga
Nyamapanda
Marondera
Cecil Kop
Plumtree
Kwekwe
ChakariNembudziya
Binga
Chipinge
BBG
Chimanimani
ChiredziTriangle
Checheche
Nyanga
Proposed
ZIMBABWE
Backbone
Turk Mine
Sanyati
Chirundu
Kanyemba
Gwanda
W Nicholson
Esigodhini
Filabusi
Centenary
Chikwalakwala
Mazoe
Bindura
Muzarabani
Mhangura
Antelope Mine
GutuHot Springs
Mbizi
Inyathi
Thuli
RedCliff
Shamva
Murewa
Siyakobvu
Siyabuwa
Zvishavane
HwedzaKamativi
To ZAMBIA
To Namibia
To MOZAMBIQUE
International Internet Connectivity
Zimbabwe is land-linked country hence local operatorsaccess international internet connectivity through fibre atlanding ports in Mozambique and South Africa.
This has contributed to the high cost of internet access inZimbabwe.
The major international internet connectivity providers forthe local internet access providers are Seacom, LiquidInternational, WIOCC, BOFINET, Telkom Namibia, TelkomSA amongst others.
Equipped Incoming International Internet Connectivityhas grown from just 6,200Mbps in 2012 to reach21,700Mbps in 2016 as demand for internet keepsincreasing in the country
International Internet Connectivity
The growth in incoming international internet bandwidth capacity of the fibre networks over the past years is shown in the graph below:
Equipped Incoming International Internet Bandwidth
Growth of ADSL
The country has also experienced huge growthin the number of active ADSL subscriptions byhouseholds and corporates.
In the 4 year period from 2012 to 2016, ADSLsubscriptions have grown by 448% to reach69,253 active subscriptions from 12,648recorded in 2012.
The annual growth in active Asymmetric DigitalSubscribers Lines in the country is shown in thegraph below:
Leased Lines
Whilst growth has been experiencedin the other fixed broadbandtechnologies, Leased lines have beenon the decline since 2014 as usersswitch to Fiber and ADSL.
The declining trend of leased linesubscriptions is shown in the graphbelow:
Fixed Broadband
Although growth has been experienced in theuse of fixed broadband in Zimbabwe, growth inthe use of mobile broadband has been evengreater.
As at 31 March 2016, fixed broadband made uponly 5% of total broadband subscriptions in thecountry.
Mobile broadband constituted 95% of totalbroadband subscriptions.
Internet Penetration in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has taken great strides inimproving access to internet services inthe country.
The internet penetration rate iscurrently 49% up from just 5.1%recorded in 2009.
The annual growth in the internetpenetration rate from 2009 to 2016 isshown in the graph below:
Improving Broadband access and affordability
Infrastructure sharing to reduce costof broadband service provision
Setting up of a Regional InternetExchange Point
National Broadband Plans
Connecting underserved areasthrough Universal Service projects.