Econet to launch 3G next year

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s largest mobile network operator Econet said on Friday it would launch third generation (3G) cellular services next year, becoming only the third country in Africa to offer the technology.

Econet said in a statement the service, which offers high-speed data transmission and allows callers to see real-time video images of each other, would initially target the capital Harare before extending to other major urban centres. South Africa and Mauritius are the only African countries where 3G is available, but cell phone firm Vodacom, joint-owned by Vodafone and Telkom, is building a network in Tanzania and MTN is thinking about launching 3G in Nigeria.”Econet has ordered equipment from Swedish telecoms equipment manufacturer Ericsson for an initial capacity of 50 000 lines for the service that will be targeted at the high-end market, comprising mostly business executives, professionals and senior government officials,” said Econet.These would be in addition to another 300 000 lines for normal cellular service the company plans to release from next month under a US$20 million expansion program to increase network capacity to 800 000 from 500 000 by year end.Analysts are divided on whether there is a business case for the high-speed data service in Africa.Some note that very few customers in the world’s poorest continent can afford it, while others say that in countries where fixed-line infrastructure is patchy, mobile Internet access is desperately needed.In August, Econet Chief Executive Douglas Mboweni said Zimbabwe had been left behind in a booming mobile phone industry in Africa as a recession and foreign exchange crunch hampers the three operators’ ability to expand their networks.Econet, which enjoys about 57 per cent of the local subscriber share, competes with privately owned Telecel Zimbabwe, which has 17 per cent of the local market, and state-run Net*One with 26 per cent.Nampa-ReutersSouth Africa and Mauritius are the only African countries where 3G is available, but cell phone firm Vodacom, joint-owned by Vodafone and Telkom, is building a network in Tanzania and MTN is thinking about launching 3G in Nigeria.”Econet has ordered equipment from Swedish telecoms equipment manufacturer Ericsson for an initial capacity of 50 000 lines for the service that will be targeted at the high-end market, comprising mostly business executives, professionals and senior government officials,” said Econet.These would be in addition to another 300 000 lines for normal cellular service the company plans to release from next month under a US$20 million expansion program to increase network capacity to 800 000 from 500 000 by year end.Analysts are divided on whether there is a business case for the high-speed data service in Africa.Some note that very few customers in the world’s poorest continent can afford it, while others say that in countries where fixed-line infrastructure is patchy, mobile Internet access is desperately needed.In August, Econet Chief Executive Douglas Mboweni said Zimbabwe had been left behind in a booming mobile phone industry in Africa as a recession and foreign exchange crunch hampers the three operators’ ability to expand their networks.Econet, which enjoys about 57 per cent of the local subscriber share, competes with privately owned Telecel Zimbabwe, which has 17 per cent of the local market, and state-run Net*One with 26 per cent.Nampa-Reuters