Mobile operator Econet Wireless has announced that its subsidiary, Econet Zimbabwe, will deploy 50 000 lines that will support third-generation (3G) technology by early next year.
Zimbabwe`s capital city, Harare, will be used to test the technology`s feasibility, after which it will be extended to other urban areas, says Econet Wireless spokesman Sure Kamhunga.
He declined to comment on the cost of the roll-out, citing competitive reasons.
According to a company press release, Douglas Mboweni, CEO of Econet Zimbabwe, says the equipment has been ordered from Swedish telecoms equipment manufacturer Ericsson. The lines are being implemented in conjunction with 300 000 normal cellular lines that are scheduled to be set up next month, which is costing the company $20 million.
The expansion programme will increase network capacity from 500 000 to 800 000 by the end of this year, says Mboweni.
Kamhunga says 3G in Zimbabwe is aimed at business people and government officials. "Econet believes there is still a strong presence of high-end users in Zimbabwe who can benefit from the technology."
He adds it is targeting high-end users because the cellular technology that supports 3G technology is expensive compared to the normal network phones.
Econet`s Web site says Zimbabwe will become one of the few countries in Africa that supports the technology, aside from SA and Mauritius.
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