Telecom firms seek tariff review
LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
Zimbabwe’s telecommunications operators are seeking tariff review so they can raise their rates to cover rising operating costs, Business Times can report.
In a statement accompanying financial results for the six months to August 31, 2023, the Econet Wireless Zimbabwe’s board chairman James Myers stated that Postal, Regulatory Telecommunications Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), the regulatory body, ought to allow them to charge market-competitive rates for their services in order to keep the company afloat.
“Viable pricing of telecommunication services remains a key factor for the continued growth and sustainability of the industry. The volatile operating environment continues to significantly erode the benefits of any tariff adjustments,” Myers said.
He added: “Regular and effective tariff reviews that track inflation and exchange rate movements are critical to ensure the viability and sustainability of the sector.”
According to POTRAZ, voice and data tariffs remain at discounts of 58% and 88% respectively to the region.
NetOne acting chief commercial officer Learnmore Masunda weighed in saying: “There is a need for a tariff review as we last reviewed in February and we got our data from South Africa. The company has been suffering as the South African dealers reviewed their data several times at a time when we are not adjusting here, thereby threatening the company’s viability.”
To support the capital-intensive industry, which was reeling from the severe devaluation of the local currency, POTRAZ more than doubled the data and voice tariffs in October of this year.
