MOBILE network operators experienced a robust revenue growth of 8,35% to ZiG7,27 billion during the third quarter of the year, driven by increased internet/data services from Netflix, YouTube and TikTok usage, a new report shows.
The increase in revenue is from ZiG6,71 billion recorded over the third quarter of 2024.
“Mobile network operators (MNOs) experienced robust revenue growth of 8,35% from ZiG6,71 billion to record ZiG7,27 billion in the third quarter of 2025,” the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) said in its new third-quarter 2025 report.
“On the other hand, aggregate operating costs increased substantially by 19,71% from ZiG3,48 billion incurred in the second quarter to ZiG4,16 billion...
“As shown above, internet/data services continued to become the biggest revenue contributor for the MNOs to the tune of 49,64% in the quarter under review.
“this is attributed to the growing use of data-hungry applications such as Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok, among others.”
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MNOs collectively recorded a significant quarter-on-quarter increase in internet/data traffic, surging by 10,72% to 144,09 petabytes (PB) from 130,14 (PB) in the quarter under review.
“During the quarter under review, all mobile operators recorded internet/data traffic growths of more than 10%,” Potraz said.
“The robust growth figures continue to indicate a powerful and potentially accelerated shift towards more data-intensive services consumption habits.”
Potraz said Zimbabwe continued to experience significant internet/data traffic increases in line with a global internet traffic growth trajectory.
“This has been attributed to increased use of data intensive applications supported by the rollout of high-speed network infrastructure as indicated by a 26,59% increase in 5G base station deployments among other factors in the quarter under review,” Potraz said.
“Econet gained marginally by 0,08 percentage points in mobile Internet/data traffic market share, while NetOne ceded an equivalent share. On the other hand, Telecel’s position remained stable at 0,16%.”
A total of 67 additional 5G base station deployments were recorded in the quarter under review, bringing the total to 319, while an additional 125 long-term evolution base stations and 76 3G base stations were deployed.
“The significant increase in deployment of next-generation network infrastructure will go a long way in enhancing connectivity, quality of service, and network speeds,” Potraz said.
Potraz said the base station infrastructure market continued to exhibit a highly consolidated structure led by Econet.
“While Econet maintains its position as the market leader, NetOne continued to make strides particularly in 3G and LTE deployments, to expand its network coverage,” Potraz said.
“Conversely, Telecel is facing sustained challenges, marking a period of significant stagnation across all technologies.”
However, the mobile network cost-to-income ratio for the quarter under review worsened by 5,36 percentage points.
“This deterioration in operational efficiency was driven primarily by rapid operating costs increase that exceeded revenue growth,” Potraz said.
“In the same period, total capital expenditure declined significantly by 67% as opposed to a 261% increase in the prior quarter, recording ZiG508,92 million from ZiG1,53 billion invested in the second quarter.”