Enterprise Reporter

THE Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) says Telecel Zimbabwe stays a viable enterprise entity so long as it  accesses overseas forex timeously.

Potraz director-general, Reward Machengete, stated the telecoms regulator was assured of the cell phone operator’s capability to maintain operations offered it accesses the requisite overseas forex for vital exterior funds.

Information from the telecoms regulator reveals that between the primary quarter of 2017 and third quarter of 2021, Telecel’s whole cell income share shrank.

The information additionally reveals that the Authorities-controlled cell community operator skilled a marked decline in share of the revenues amongst trade  operators.

“We don’t imagine Telecel will collapse, their working licence is unbroken they usually have sufficient subscribers and working providers to maintain their operations,” Dr Machengete stated.

Dr Machengete

“Ought to any cell community supplier resolve to cease operations, they’re mandated to offer ample discover to permit subscribers to maneuver to a different community and to additionally enable subscribers to exhaust their airtime, SMS or information balances,” he stated.

Dr Machengete stated telecoms corporations working in Zimbabwe ought to be prioritised in overseas forex allocation by the Reserve Financial institution of Zimbabwe (RBZ).

Nevertheless, the telecoms outfit has revealed that it’s battling “spiralling operational prices”.

Firm spokesperson, Zitha Dube, stated the telecommunications agency required pressing capital injection to remain afloat.

Final week, Telecel revealed that it skilled widespread community challenges after its subscribers struggled to entry voice calls and information providers for a number of days.

Ms Dube stated the challenges had since been resolved, with the corporate now dealing with monetary challenges, which as soon as resolved, the corporate would return to working on sound footing.

“We’ve got a strategic plan in place which is awaiting funding from various initiatives at the moment being pursued. Like some other firm working in Zimbabwe, the inflationary surroundings has resulted in spiralling operational prices which aren’t in tandem with the rise in income,” Dube stated.

She stated the telecommunications sector was capital-intensive and required overseas forex for procurement of kit for growth.

“Given these circumstances, we imagine that our gearing ranges are acceptable. The telecom operators are constantly partaking the regulatory authority for viable tariffs,” Dube added.

Whereas the cell phone community outsources various inputs from exterior suppliers, some overseas service suppliers have up to now threatened to cease servicing native telecommunication corporations over non-payment.