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Zimbabwe ranked low in ICT
MISA-Zimbabwe
April 06, 2009

http://www.misazim.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=498&Itemid=1

The Global Information Technology report of 2008-2009 has ranked Zimbabwe's Information and Communication Technology sector at 132 out of 134 countries on the network readiness index list, ahead of East Timor and Chad.

The Network Readiness Index (NRI) measures the capacity of countries to exploit the opportunities offered by the ever-changing Information and Communications Technology sector. The NRI comprise of three components: the environment for ICT offered by a given country or community, the readiness of the community's key stakeholders to use ICT's, and the usage of the ICT amongst these stakeholders.

Zimbabwe recorded very poor figures of about 2.5 fixed lines per 100 inhabitants, 6.5 mobile lines per 100 and less than 9.5 internet users per 100.

Currently Zimbabwe has three mobile networks that are characterised by congestion and only one is in the process of enabling 3G services. The internet remains accessible to a privileged few and access is mostly affected by power outages and the 'broken down' fixed landline system.

Zimbabwe once had the second growing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in sub-Saharan Africa after South Africa but has since suffered due to collapse of the economy. The sector has also suffered due to the neglect of policies like the National Telecom Policy, National Postal Services Policy and the Universal Services policy.

In 2001, the government of Zimbabwe announced a Universal Services policy, modelled along the SADC Universal Services Guidelines. The policy created a Fund to which operators contributed 5% of their gross revenue to fund projects in areas that were underdeveloped in terms of ICT's. Revenue collected during the period 2001-2008 has since been eroded by the country's harsh inflation before any project could be implemented.

Zimbabwe's Universal Services policy aimed at increasing the number of landline telephones for every 100 individuals in urban areas from 6.27% in 2003 to 10% in 2006, and from 0.43% in 2003 to 3% in 2006 for rural tele-density. It also meant to double internet access from 206 078 in 2003 to 500 000 in 2006.

According to the report of 2006-2007, Zimbabwe was ranked 117th globally, and below all SADC countries except the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the region.

The Minister of the new Information Communication Technology ministry, Nelson Chamisa has since promised to revive the sector by allocating frequencies for 3G services to mobile operators, ensuring that the Value Added Tax (VAT) remains low as possible on ICT's that have become more of a luxury and to revisit the Universal Services Fund now that the country's ICT's services are charged in foreign currency.

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