Econet launches LTE services in Zimbabwe

Published: 21 August 2013

Econet Wireless's fairly new Chief Commercial and Customer Services Officer, Stan Henning announced today that Econet's LTE (commonly referred to as 4G) service has been officially switched on and was open for business.

The LTE will be launched in the resort town of Victoria Falls, where the assembly will be held from August 24 to 29.

According to Henning the 4G network has already been installed and functional in some places in Zimbabwe which includes international airports that is Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls and CBDs of Harare and Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.

Henning announced that although the modems will only be available in Victoria Falls this week for the UNWTO, distribution in the other areas will start one week after the UNTWO assembly. Econet will start selling 4G dongles immediately after the UNWTO general assembly taking place this weekend.

Henning said the network speeds of the 4G devices can go up-to 65Mbps, which is 10 times faster than the current 3G (3.5G as he put it) and require 95% less time to connect. The data tariffs for the 4G service are said to be similar to that of 3G.

Commenting on the launch of the service, Econet Wireless CEO Mr Douglas Mboweni said the hosting of the tourism event was an opportunity to show the world that Zimbabwe "is not dead and buried; we are very much alive, and we have kept pace with developments in the world."

Mr Mboweni said that his group of companies, which includes sister companies Liquid Telecom and ZOL, have invested heavily in ensuring that telecommunications services in Victoria Falls are world class.

- techzim