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The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has clarified the licensing of internet service providers (ISPs) in the country, including those partnering with Starlink.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/potraz-has-no-starlink-sole-exclusivity-licences/">The Herald</a>, POTRAZ Director-General Gift Machengete said the regulatory body has issued several ISP licenses to both prospective and existing operators, and none of these licenses carry sole or exclusive rights to partner with Starlink.
This appears to contradict a previous announcement made by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on May 25th, where he stated that IMC Communications, which is linked to businessman Wicknell Chivayo, had been approved as the “sole and exclusive local partner” for Starlink in Zimbabwe.
Machengete’s comments suggest that the President’s statement may have been inaccurate or incomplete, as POTRAZ has not granted any ISP an exclusive partnership with Starlink. Said Machengete:
<blockquote>
POTRAZ has over the years granted licences to ISPs such as DFA Zimbabwe, ZOL, Utande, Powertel, Liquid Intelligent and TelOne, among others.
Machengete asserted that none of the ISPs holds a licence with sole or exclusivity rights for any internet services because that would violate the country’s competition laws. He said:
An ISP licence is an internet service provider’s licence. Several others already have the licences.
In our licence categories, we have no licences for exclusivity. Our licences are not technology-specific, in this case, the service that we are licensing is internet service provision.
This means that anyone who has our licence, if it is an ISP, that person can go to Starlink, that person can go to Liquid, that person can use any technology.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

POTRAZ said no one has exclusive rights to partner with Starlink in Zimbabwe. The President's statement about IMC Communications being the sole partner may be wrong. POTRAZ has given licenses to many ISPs, not just IMC Communications. No ISP has the exclusive right to work with Starlink. The licenses are for providing internet services, not specific technologies. This means anyone with a license can work with Starlink or other internet providers. The licenses follow competition laws in Zimbabwe.

POTRAZ Denies Chivayo's IMC Communications Has Exclusive Rights To Partner Starlink

The Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has said there are a lot of misconceptions about data tariffs in the country.
This follows recent social media posts claiming that Zimbabwe’s data costs are higher than those of neighbouring nations.
In a statement, POTRAZ director-general Gift Machengete said POTRAZ evaluates tariffs based on out-of-bundle charges or headline tariffs.
He said these reflect the actual cost of providing services and help balance affordability and operator viability. Said Machengete:
<blockquote>
The Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe would like to clarify the perception that tariffs are expensive in Zimbabwe when compared to regional peers.
This follows recent social media posts, some with unsubstantiated figures which portrayed Data / Internet services to be the highest in the region.
First, it is necessary to reveal that tariff comparisons that are done by POTRAZ are based on out of bundle tariffs or headline tariffs for the various offers in the region.
This is because out of bundle charges are more reflective of the cost of providing services, which enables the Authority to balance service affordability and operator viability. Hence it is the most objective criteria for comparison purposes.
</blockquote>
Machengete argued that data bundles, often discounted and bundled with extras, do not accurately represent service costs, saying they serve promotional purposes, including customer acquisition and retention. He said:
<blockquote>
The Authority refrains from using data bundles for comparison purposes as this may be misleading. This is because bundled services are normally discounted and may come with “freebies” and “fringes” whose intrinsic value may be cumbersome to quantify.
Hence bundled services do not necessarily reflect the cost of providing services but are promotional in nature as they are designed for business strategic reasons which include customer acquisition and retention, amongst others.
</blockquote>
The POTRAZ boss also stated that when comparing services, it’s essential to consider the same type (e.g., mobile, fixed, or satellite data). Factors like speed, latency, validity period, and fair use policies impact service value. He said:
<blockquote>
It is also important to compare like with like, such that if one is comparing mobile data, let it be so, without mixing up with fixed and satellite data service offerings, as the cost of providing the different types of services may differ, even within the same country.
Even when comparing fixed Internet/Data packages, it is necessary to consider factors such as speed, latency, validity period and fair use policies, which have a bearing on the value of service to consumers.
</blockquote>
On the issue of Starlink, Machengete said POTRAZ is not blocking the internet service provider.
He said although Starlink has expressed interest in providing services in Zimbabwe, they have not completed the necessary licensing process. As a result, their current service offering in Zimbabwe is unauthorised.
Machengete warned that using Starlink in Zimbabwe without a valid license will violate the law and those who do so will face legal consequences. He said:
<blockquote>
The Authority would like to categorically state that it is not blocking Starlink in anyway. POTRAZ would like to reveal that Starlink is not yet licensed to provide services in Zimbabwe.
They have expressed interest to offer services in Zimbabwe and have been provided with all the relevant information for them to apply. They have not yet done so.
This means that their service offering in Zimbabwe is illegal because for as long as they remain without a licence. 
Therefore, anyone found using Starlink in Zimbabwe will be in breach of the law and will face the consequences in accordance with the law. The public should be so guided.
</blockquote>
He advised the public and stakeholders not to rely on flawed information aimed at unduly influencing policy and regulatory decisions but to verify details with POTRAZ to avoid panic.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

POTRAZ Clarifies Data Costs And Starlink

The Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) said that Starlink has expressed interest in operating in Zimbabwe and has been provided with all the relevant information for it to apply.
Reports suggest that several companies including parastatals and individuals already are using Starlink internet service.
<a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/doors-open-for-starlink-to-operate-potraz/">The Herald</a> reported POTRAZ director general Gift Machengete as saying the authority has no intention to block Starlink in any way despite it currently being unlicensed to provide services in Zimbabwe. Said Machengete:
<blockquote>
They have expressed interest in offering services in Zimbabwe and have been provided with all the relevant information for them to apply. They have not yet done so.
This means that their service offering in Zimbabwe is illegal because for as long as they remain without a licence.
</blockquote>
Some reports claim that the Government wants Starlink to operate in the country through middlemen, a requirement the internet provider reportedly rejected.
Last month, Machengete warned companies illegally advertising and distributing internet services and gadgets from Starlink, which is not licenced to operate in Zimbabwe, that they will be prosecuted.
In February, a Guruve-based Chinese mining company, San He, was fined US$700 by a Bindura magistrate, and early this month, Zambezi Boutique Private Limited, a Victoria Falls-based company, was fined US$500 for unauthorised use of Starlink internet services.
Starlink is currently available in several African countries, including Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia, Kenya, and Malawi.
Starlink offers several advantages that include high download and upload speeds, availability and reliability in remote areas, weather resilience, unlimited data usage, and portability, among others.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

POTRAZ Has No Intention To Block Starlink - Machengete

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Postal_and_Telecommunications_Regulatory_Authority_of_Zimbabwe/">Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ)</a> has prohibited mobile service providers from hiking their tariffs in United States dollars (US$). The regulator recently <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/10/27/potraz-allows-telecoms-companies-to-double-tariffs-in-zimbabwe-dollar/">approved new tariff thresholds in the local currency</a> due to the depreciation of the Zim dollar, but stated that the US dollar remained stable.
Any service providers who violate this directive will be fined, said POTRAZ director-general Gift Machengete in a statement. Read the statement in part: 
<blockquote>
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe recently approved new tariff thresholds for telecommunication services.
The new tariff thresholds are applicable to services denominated in Zimdollar, which is the currency to which all tariffs for telecommunication services are pegged.
</blockquote>
Dr Machengete announced that service packages priced in United States dollars (US$) would not be adjusted because the foreign currency has remained relatively stable. Machengete warned that any service providers who increase their US$ prices would be charging unapproved tariffs and could face fines.
The recent tariff hike sparked complaints from Zimbabweans who found the data charges unaffordable. However, Machengete claimed that Zimbabwe has the cheapest data tariffs in the region. He refuted reports that Zimbabwe has the most expensive data tariff in the world, stating that the country actually has the lowest data tariff in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. He said:
<blockquote>
Finally, we continue to come across posts purporting to draw evidence from a UK [United Kingdom] website, that Zimbabwe has the most expensive data tariff in the world at US$43,75 per gigabyte (GB).
We reiterate that this is not only false, but misleading and malicious. As a matter of fact, and contrary to that report, Zimbabwe has the lowest data tariff in the Sadc region, with an out-of-bundle tariff of ZWL$14 930, which translates to US$3,21 per GB at the September 2023 official exchange rate, while the Sadc average is US$4,60.
</blockquote>
After receiving public complaints about the tariff increase, the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Tatenda_Mavetera/">Tatenda Mavetera</a>, stated that <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/10/27/ict-minister-says-ministry-and-potraz-addressing-recent-increase-in-data-charges/">her ministry is collaborating with POTRAZ</a> to address the issue.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

POTRAZ Prohibits USD Tariff Hike, Adds That Zimbabwe Has The Lowest Data Tariff In SADC

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Postal_and_Telecommunications_Regulatory_Authority_of_Zimbabwe/">Postal Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ)</a> has announced plans to provide mobile computer training in villages starting next year. The goal is to ensure that citizens make full use of the Community Information Centres (CICs).
With nearly 200 operational CICs in Zimbabwe, including in rural areas, POTRAZ aims to equip the public with the necessary skills for efficient internet access and usage. The announcement was made by POTRAZ Director General Dr <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Gift_Machengete/">Gift Machengete</a> during the institution’s strategic planning workshop. <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/potraz-embarks-on-village-based-mobile-computer-trainings/">The Chronicle</a> quotes him as saying:
<blockquote>
In 2024 the Authority will start village-based mobile training sessions in basic computer appreciation with a view to improving CIC patronage as people would appreciate the importance and usefulness of the centres more, once they have basic knowledge of computers and the Internet.
Although the number of people visiting CICs continues to increase steadily, the Authority is of the opinion that the CICs are under-utilised, stemming from a lack of appreciation of the benefits of the sites to individuals and communities as well as a general lack of computer skills among rural folk.
</blockquote>
Dr Machengete said 32 additional CICs are currently under construction, bringing the total number of CICs to 202 once they are completed. Dr Machengete considers this a significant milestone in achieving universal access and usage of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Zimbabwe. 
POTRAZ, in collaboration with the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, began commissioning CICs in 2016, with the goal of serving underserved rural communities. They initially targeted to establish a total of 210 CICs.
Most CICs provide various services such as banking, internet access, computer training, research support for schools and communities, and money transfer services. These CICs have also facilitated the establishment of computer laboratories in previously marginalised schools, particularly in rural areas, through the distribution of computers.
<h3>Importance of the POTRAZ program</h3>
This comes amid concerns that Zimbabwe may not be ready to fully benefit from the emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution. Many Zimbabweans and institutions are not prepared for AI, despite its potential impact comparable to the Industrial Revolution. The question of whether Zimbabwe is AI-ready was raised at a Unicaf-organized event, and the majority believed that the country was not prepared <a href="https://www.techzim.co.zw/2023/10/zim-not-ready-to-take-advantage-of-what-ai-has-to-offer/">Techzim’s Leonard Sengere</a> reported.
Lack of access to computers and the internet is a major obstacle in utilising AI effectively. Internet penetration stands at 65.2%, while only 58.8% of households have smartphones, and a mere 14.2% of the population has access to a computer. Additionally, only 53% of households have electricity. However, even if individuals themselves do not have access to AI technology, they may still benefit indirectly if the government and private sector utilise AI to improve efficiency and lower costs. Nonetheless, the ideal situation would be for individuals to utilize AI for their own purposes hence the need toward bridging the digital divide.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

POTRAZ Has Announced Plans To Provide Mobile Computer Training In Villages

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) says it will be conducting public sensitisation and awareness workshops across the country to educate citizens about their rights as enshrined under the Cyber and Data Protection Act.
The Cyber and Data Protection Act was gazetted on 11 March 2022 and the aim of the Act is to increase cyber security in order to build confidence and trust in the secure use of information and communication technologies by data controllers, their representatives and data subjects.
In a public notice, POTRAZ Director-General, Gift Machengete said the workshops will start in Harare Province on 20, 22, and 27 June 2023, and transport will be availed for ferry attendees to the venues. Reads the notice:
<blockquote>
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), as the Designated Data Protection Authority of Zimbabwe, would like to inform all citizens that their online activities generate a trail of data as websites and applications collect data on among other things, individual behaviours and interests.
Some organisations also collect and process personal information for various purposes.
To ensure personal data is protected from abuse or manipulation, Government has enacted the Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07].
The Act ensures that individuals have better control over their personal information and that this information is processed for a legitimate purpose and in a lawful, fair and transparent manner.
In this regard, POTRAZ is organising public sensitisation and awareness workshops across the country to educate data subjects about their rights as enshrined under the Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07], beginning with Harare Province on 20, 22 and 27 June 2023.
Transport to the workshops will be available for registered participants only from the Main Post Office along Innez Terrace Ave at 0800 hours and back at 1430 hours.
</blockquote>
Machengete said those who intend to participate should register by clicking on https://www.potraz.gov.zw/?page_id=2439 or send an email with your contact details to the.regulator@potraz.gov.zw. For more details, you can contact POTRAZ on +263 242 333032/46/48.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

POTRAZ Plans To Educate Citizens About The Data Protection Act

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) said Telecel Zimbabwe will not collapse as it has enough subscribers and running services to sustain its operations.
POTRAZ director-general, Gift Machengete, said Telecel can continue operating provided it got foreign currency. He said:
<blockquote>
We do not believe Telecel will collapse, their operating licence is intact and they have enough subscribers and running services to sustain their operations.
Should any mobile network provider decide to stop operations, they are mandated to give ample notice to allow subscribers to move to another network and to also allow subscribers to exhaust their airtime, SMS or data balances.
</blockquote>
Machengete said mobile network operators needed to be prioritised in foreign currency allocation by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
According to POTRAZ, between the first quarter of 2017 and the third quarter of 2021, Telecel’s total mobile revenue share was shrinking.
Telecel lost over a million subscribers from 1 646 411 at the end of 2017 to 582 570 at the end of the third quarter of 2021, resulting in a loss in revenue.
Last week, Telecel subscribers struggled to access voice calls and data services for several days after the telecoms firm experienced network challenges.
Telecel Zimbabwe spokesperson, Zitha Dube, said the telecommunications firm is struggling with “spiralling operational costs”.
She said the firm has a strategic plan in place which is awaiting funding from a number of initiatives currently being pursued.
Telecel is engaging the Chinese multinational tech conglomerate, Huawei Technologies.
Meanwhile, the Government, which is Telecel’s major shareholder, has been silent amid the company’s struggles.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.ebusinessweekly.co.zw/telecel-still-viable-potraz/">Business Weekly</a></h4>

Telecel Will Not Collapse - POTRAZ

The Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) said that it has given the country’s three mobile network operators (MNOs) free frequencies until the end of 2020.
According to POTRAZ director-general Gift Machengete, this has been done as part of measures to ensure affordable data to consumers to mitigate the effects on the coronavirus pandemic.
Econet, NetOne and Telecel have been granted free spectrum to enable them to increase their capacities to offer data to consumers. Said Machengete:
<blockquote>During the Covid-19, Potraz will be assigning additional 3G (Third Generation Network) and LTE (Long Term Evolution) spectrum for free to cater for additional data demand.
The authority has granted the spectrum up to December 2020 to three mobile operators to enable them to increase the capacity of their data offering.</blockquote>
Meanwhile, MNOs recently hiked charges for most of their services, including data, with Econet increasing data charges by 225 per cent, much to the chagrin of consumers.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/potraz-moves-to-reduce-data-costs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Sunday Mail</a></h4>

POTRAZ Allocates Free Spectrum To MNOs To Stabilise Data Prices

Zimbabweans will have to pay more for mobile calls after the country’s telecoms regulator, the Postal Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) hiked tariffs by 180%.
The latest adjustment will see on-net calls per minute cost 48 cents (Zimbabwean dollars), up from around 17 cents.
POTRAZ justified the upward tariff adjustment as a way to keep operators viable amid increasing costs of doing business.
With the high cost of diesel needed to operate base stations, Zimbabwe’s mobile network operators were struggling.
Rolling power cuts have thus resulted in an exponential increase in the cost of doing business.
The last tariff adjustment was in April 2019 which almost doubled call tariffs at the time. POTRAZ cited then;
<blockquote>the introduction of market determined interbank exchange rates as well as cost movements during the year 2018 and fuel price increases in January 2019.</blockquote>
In a circular on Thursday announcing the tariff hike, POTRAZ Director General, Gift Machengete, said that the operating environment has since changed for operators due to inflationary pressures bedevilling the economy. He said,
<blockquote>Year-on-year inflation for the month of June reached a 10-year high of 175.66%.
Accordingly, the Authority has found it necessary review tariff thresholds for telecommunication services.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://m.fin24.com/Economy/Africa/zimbaweans-face-182-hike-in-mobile-call-tariffs-20190808" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fin24</a>

POTRAZ Gives The Greenlight For MNOs To Hike Call Tariffs

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) said that it will continue to review all tariffs charged by service providers.
This was revealed by POTRZ director general Gift Machengete while responding to a letter from the National Consumer Rights Association (NACORA).
The consumer rights watchdog had complained over the tariff hike by telecoms companies at the end of April following the removal of the 1:1 US dollar and bond note fixed exchange rate by the Central Bank. Said Machengete:
<blockquote>The authority will continuously review all tariffs for telecommunication services in line with cost movements and other market dynamics as usage traffic.
This is aimed at balancing operator viability and service affordability using the cost-based criteria in line with international best practice and not simply benchmarking on what other countries are doing.
The authority will work towards having all operators putting in place mechanisms to ensure consumers are protected from bill shocks.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/05/potraz-will-continue-to-review-telecoms-tariffs/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Newsday</a></h4>

POTRAZ To Continuously Review Telecoms Tariffs

Zol Zimbabwe has been summoned by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) for questioning over an unauthorised data tariff increase without the regulator’s approval.
The Newsday reports that Zol, a subsidiary of Liquid Telecom Group, made the increase before Potraz made a decision on a request by telecom players to increase tariffs. Potraz director-general Gift Machengete is quoted as saying:
<blockquote>No. They did not get that from Potraz. In fact, we do not regulate Zol.
But we do regulate Liquid and also saw that (increases in tariffs) so we are now going to find out from Liquid what this is all about.
I was not in the office and I am going to the office right now and will be finding out from Liquid … but we did not give them that permission.
But right now, because I have not engaged Liquid, it might be premature to comment any further. Maybe after engaging Liquid, which I am going to be doing this afternoon, I can comment further.</blockquote>
<h3>Related:</h3>
<ul>
<li class="entry-title">
<h3><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/03/17/zol-introduces-usd-prices-internet/">ZOL Introduces USD Pricing</a></h3>
</li>
<li class="entry-title">
<h3><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/03/17/zol-increases-rtgs-internet-prices/">ZOL Increases RTGS$ Internet Prices</a></h3>
</li>
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More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/03/potraz-summons-liquid-over-tariff-hike/">Newsday</a>

ZOL Summoned By POTRAZ Over Data Tariff Increase

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) says it has received applications from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) for an upward review of tariffs.
This was revealed by Potraz acting director general Kennedy Dewera, who was speaking on behalf of his boss Gift Machengete on Thursday. Said Dewera
<blockquote>Indeed, we have received those applications from various operators and these are still being considered by the authority.
You may be aware that there have been developments in the economy and those developments impact on the decisions to be made by the regulator.
So these factors are still being looked at within the timeframe that the regulator can consider them. It is difficult to give the exact time when we can expect a final position as the process isn’t entirely up to the regulators, we have to consult extensively. But when the analysis has been done it will be taken to the operators.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2019/03/01/zim-telecommunication-firms-seek-tariffs-hike">Daily News</a></h4>

Mobile Network Operators Apply For Tariff Hike

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has taken steps to achieve the infrastructure sharing objective. POTRAZ has now built 367 towers through the Universal Service Fund. The towers have a 15km radius.
Speaking at the commissioning of one such site at Phumula village in Tsholotso, the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Kazembe Kazembe said
<blockquote>It is our fervent hope that through such initiatives our operators learn and continue to appreciate the tenants and benefits of infrastructure sharing. Apart from providing wider consumer choice and an enhanced service competition which in turn promotes creativity and innovation, infrastructure sharing significantly brings down both capital expenditure and operating expenditure.</blockquote>
Speaking at the same event, POTRAZ Director General Gift Machengete said
<blockquote>As we now move towards addressing connectivity for the last 15% of our population, it is important to bear in mind the importance of affordability to consumers in general and bottom of the pyramid consumers in particular. Connectivity without affordability is futile and meaningless to the intended beneficiaries. We, therefore, believe that access to affordable quality information communication technologies is a basic right to every citizen in as much as access to water is a basic right.</blockquote>
<h2>Related:</h2>
<ul>
<li class="entry-title">
<h3><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2018/12/06/available-spectrum-does-allow-additional-mobile-networks-potraz/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Available Spectrum Does Not Allow For Additional Mobile Networks: Potraz</a></h3>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>More: <a href="http://www.zbc.co.zw/potraz-speaks-on-infrastructure-sharing/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ZBC News</a></h3>

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