Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – The Postal and Telecommunications Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has begun implementing a nationwide tower relocation programme aimed at expanding mobile network coverage to under-served areas, and those with no service.
Under the initiative, the telecommunications regulator is dismantling co-located towers where multiple mobile network operators have separate towers in the same area leaving one shared tower in place.
The removed towers are then relocated to areas with little or no network connectivity.
In an interview, POTRAZ Director-General, Dr Gift Machengete said the programme is being implemented in line with the authority’s infrastructure-sharing regulations.
“We have a tower relocation programme where we are derigging all co-located towers, leaving only one shared tower, and relocating the removed towers to new sites with no connectivity,” said Machengete.
All towers under this programme will be shared by the three mobile network operators in line with our infrastructure-sharing regulations, he added.
Machengete explained that in areas where two or more towers exist within close proximity, one or two of the towers are dismantled and redeployed to under-served regions of the country.
“This effort is being carried out in collaboration with operators such as Telecel, NetOne and Econet, all of whom have infrastructure in these locations,” he said.
He added that when a tower belonging to one operator such as Econet is relocated to a remote area, other operators like NetOne will install their base stations at the same site to enable infrastructure sharing.
“Under this arrangement, a shared base station remains in the original location, while operators mount their antennas and satellite dishes on the shared tower. The tower itself is passive infrastructure, while each provider retains ownership of its own equipment,” Machengete explained.
He said the programme is cost-neutral for mobile network operators as it was being funded through the Universal Services Fund (USF), which is administered by POTRAZ.
Machengete noted that the initiative was ongoing and targets all under-served and un-served areas, although full nationwide coverage will take time.
“You will appreciate that it will take time to eventually cover all areas, but we are working flat out to ensure all deserving areas are covered,” he said.
Machengete said the infrastructure-sharing programme is designed to optimise resources while accelerating network expansion across the country.
“Although the programme has not yet reached all parts of Zimbabwe, the goal is to extend coverage to under-served communities nationwide. This collaborative approach allows us to maximise resources without incurring additional costs for the operators,” he added.
Some areas, including parts of Matobo District in Matabeleland South Province, continue to face network challenges, with residents in some villages reportedly climbing mountains to access mobile connectivity.
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