Back to Index

Zimbabwe's Netone to import generators to beat power cuts
The Standard (Zimbabwe)
Extracted from Balancing Act News Update 303
April 24, 2006

http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/current1.html

Mobile phone network operator NetOne says it will import diesel generators to alleviate network failure spawned by incessant electricity power cuts.

The country has over the past year been facing power shortages due to lack of foreign currency to import power and expand local generating capacity.

Ellen Muchemwa, NetOne marketing and communications manager, confirmed the development and said the foreign currency shortage was an impediment to the growth of the company.

"The main challenge we have is shortage of foreign currency to upgrade the capacity and to purchase new base station equipment for roll out and alleviation of congestion," Muchemwa said.

She said despite the foreign currency challenges, the mobile operator had managed to install GSM 1800 base stations in addition to its current GSM 900 in Harare and Bulawayo to increase capacity and alleviate congestion.

Muchemwa said with a subscriber base of over 210 000, NetOne is looking at expanding the subscriber base but this was subject to foreign currency availability.
A product of the unbundling of the then Post and Telecommunication Corporation, NetOne is wholly owned by government.

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP