Zim internet speed faster than developed world: Makamure

LIVINGSTONE MARUFU

Wellington Makamure, the Liquid Intelligent Technologies Southern Africa regional CEO, has claimed that internet speed in Zimbabwe  is faster than those in  several   developed world.

He said: “When it comes to fibre, we are the pacesetters. We beat London. Firstly, I would like you to do the internet speed tests in Zimbabwe then do the same when you go to the developed world  and you compare. When we don’t talk about it, the message from outside is negative and it affects our country and investments.”

He added: “It’s a sad reality. If you compare our capacity and capability with the rest of Africa and Europe in some instances you will be surprised.

I was in London last month, I took the journey  from London to Birmingham by train and I was talking to people in our office at the capital there and the signals dropped on various occasions.

“The way we cry when the networks  drop here  is just too much. This happens to the rest of the world as signals dropped  on all five networks in England due to the fact that I was on roaming. I had the privilege to use all of them. I said I will communicate when I  get access to the internet.”

According to Makamure, Zimbabwe faces the same difficulties as the developed world.

“We are almost there.We should keep improving on what the other developed nations are doing, but believe me, we are not too far behind,” Makamure said.

Speaking to journalists  Lorreta Songola, regional chief commercial officer for Liquid Intelligent Technologies in Central Africa, stated that the corporation was unfazed by Starlink’s entry into  Zimbabwe.

The international corporation Space X, led by Musk, is the sole owner of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite operator Starlink.

With more than 80% of the market share in terms of network capacity, Liquid is the biggest internet access provider in  Zimbabwe.

“After all, competition is healthy, as  this would be an opportunity for Zimbabweans to enjoy competitive services and pricing from all the players in the sector,” Songola said.

“We already operate alongside StarLink in our other regional markets like Zambia, and we are all operating well,” she said.

Liquid, which is a business unit of Cassava Technologies, is present in more than 25 countries across Africa and  terms of infrastructure, Liquid is the largest independent network provider in Africa and other emerging markets with an extensive fibre broadband network covering over 110 000km in the region and over 26 000km of this fibre network being Zimbabwe.

Songola said  the 43%  reduction in price has nothing to do with Starlink’s entry.

The promotion offers unlimited internet packages and will be reviewed periodically for customers to continuously enjoy low prices.