Zimbabwe’s mobile telecommunications sector posted strong growth in the second quarter of 2025, with revenues rising, costs falling, and capital investment hitting record levels, according to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ).
Mobile network operator revenues grew 9.24 percent, from ZWG 6.15 billion in Q1 to ZWG 6.71 billion, while operating costs declined 5.47 percent to ZWG 3.48 billion, highlighting improved operational efficiency. Capital expenditure surged by 261 percent to ZWG 1.53 billion, reflecting accelerated investments in network expansion.
Data services continued to dominate revenue streams, contributing 47.97 percent of total income, driven by heavy usage of platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok. Infrastructure rollout advanced rapidly, with 68 new 5G base stations added, bringing the total to 252, alongside 246 LTE and 130 3G stations. POTRAZ said the expanded LTE and 5G footprint would improve connectivity, speeds, and service quality.
In the VoIP market, Liquid Intelligent Technologies led with 53.10 percent of subscriptions, followed by Africom (23.47 percent), Dandemutande (17.91 percent), TelOne (5.13 percent), and Telecontract (0.39 percent).
Meanwhile, traditional voice services continued to decline, with PSTN traffic dropping 9.67 percent to 49.36 million minutes. Fixed-to-mobile traffic and calls to Internet Access Providers saw the steepest falls, while international incoming traffic fell 6.84 percent and outgoing international calls grew 4.42 percent.
POTRAZ attributed the decline in voice services to growing reliance on OTT communication platforms and the broader shift from fixed-line to mobile. Analysts say the sector’s record capital spending and rapid 5G rollout signal a data-driven future for telecoms in Zimbabwe, as operators pivot to meet surging consumer demand.
