HARARE, Apr. 30 (NewsDay Live) — Surging demand for data-intensive platforms such as WhatsApp, TikTok and YouTube is propping up Zimbabwe’s telecommunications sector, with internet services now generating more than half of total mobile revenue.
According to the latest sector performance report from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz), mobile network operators (MNOs) recorded a 6.33% revenue increase to ZWG 7.74 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from ZWG 7.27 billion in the previous quarter.
However, this growth was outpaced by rising operating costs. Aggregate costs surged 11.52%, from ZWG 4.16 billion in Q3 to ZWG 4.64 billion by year-end.
The report underscores a structural shift in consumer behaviour, with traditional voice services continuing to lose ground to internet-based communication. Mobile data remained the dominant revenue stream, contributing 50.75% of total earnings.
Potraz attributed this to the growing use of “data-hungry” applications, citing WhatsApp, YouTube and TikTok as key traffic drivers.
Information Communication Technology Minister Tatenda Mavetera said while revenue growth reflects sector resilience, affordability remains a pressing concern.
“While revenue growth supports industry sustainability, affordability must improve to ensure a win-win outcome,” she said.
Mavetera added that government has tasked Potraz director-general Gift Machengete to undertake cost-based pricing reviews. She also called for zero-rated data for essential services in education, health and agriculture, and urged a shift toward more productive use of social media platforms.
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Currently, 5GB of private Wi-Fi data costs about US$9 on an Econet Wireless Zimbabwe line, compared to US$7 for 5GB of Mo’Gigs data on NetOne.
At a regional level, the Southern African Telecommunications Association is working toward a standardised flat data roaming fee across the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), following discussions at its 2025 conference in Johannesburg.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s digital ecosystem continues to expand. Active internet and data subscriptions rose 2.02% to 13.25 million by the end of 2025, pushing internet penetration to 84.55% and broadband penetration to 82.63%. Average revenue per user (ARPU) also edged up, indicating modest improvement in sector profitability.
Data from StatCounter Global Stats shows that as of January 2026, Facebook dominates usage in Zimbabwe at 60.36%, followed by Pinterest (13.23%), X (10.5%), YouTube (7.99%), Instagram (5.98%) and LinkedIn (1.21%).
