THE country’s active mobile subscriber base grew by 3,5% while revenue generated by mobile network operators declined by 17,9% in 2014, a report from the Postal Regulatory Telecommunications Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has shown. BY VICTORIA MTOMBA
In its Postal And Telecommunications Sector Performance Fourth Quarter report, the regulatory authority said the country’s active mobile subscriber base grew to 11,8 million from 11,4 million in the third quarter of 2014.
“As a result, the mobile penetration rate (active) increased from 87,3% recorded in the previous quarter to 90,3%,” the report stated. Mobile network operators generated $907 million in 2014, a figure that showed a 17,9% decline from the 2013 figure of $1,1 billion.
“A comparison of fourth quarter’s revenues with third quarter revenues shows a 11,3% decline from $247,8 million generated in the third quarter of 2014 to $219,7 million generated in the fourth quarter of 2014,” Potraz said.
The mobile sector registered a 4% decline in total voice processed in the fourth quarter of 2014 to 1 727 202 925 minutes from 1 779 062 306 minutes in the third quarter of 2014.
The total mobile voice traffic declined by 2,1% to 7,06 billion minutes from 7,21 billion minutes recorded in 2013.
Mobile money transfer subscriptions grew by 7,3% to reach 5,3 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 from 4,9 million in the third quarter of 2014.
“The total value of transfers and transaction on mobile money services increased by 10,6% to record $445,7 million from $403,1 million recorded in the previous quarter. The number of agents also increased 13,7% to reach 23 379 from 20 569 agents recorded in the previous quarter,” Potraz said.
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Deposits on mobile money transfer increased by 80,8% to $1 442 258 558 in 2014 from $797 913 866 in 2013. The number of agents increased to 23 379 in 2014 from 9 169 in 2013.
Mobile money subscribers increased by 71,9% to reach 5 299 271 in 2014 from 3 083 126 subscribers recorded at the end of 2013. Potraz said the number of active Internet subscriptions declined by 5,2% to reach 5,9 million subscribers from 6,2 million subscribers recorded in the previous quarter.
“An annual comparison shows that internet subscriptions grew by 7,4% to reach 5 879 552 subscriptions from 5 472 710 recorded at the end of 2013,” the regulator said.
