Econet to upgrade Mat’land network
150 base stations targeted
LISTED telecommunications and technology giant, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, plans to upgrade and deploy new network infrastructure across the Matabeleland region in the coming few months to enhance customer experience.
Speaking at the reopening of the company’s newly refurbished main shop in Bulawayo on Friday, chief operating officer, Mr Kezito Makuni, said the investment forms part of Econet’s network expansion network programme into rural communities, drive 5G expansion and work to restore vandalised network infrastructure.
“We are embarking on a programme to refurbish the Bulawayo network by modernising more than 150 sites in the city with the latest technology,” he said.
“We will also be refurbishing our backup power systems and expanding coverage both in the urban and rural areas of Matabeleland. Customers should start to experience the impact of this work upgrade early in the new year,” Mr Makuni said.
He said the infrastructure modernisation programme involves upgrading of base stations, switches, transmission infrastructure, installing new base stations, upgrading software and introducing higher speed bearers on the network.
Mr Makuni was in Bulawayo, accompanied by senior Econet staff, to preside over the reopening, which follows extensive renovations of Econet’s main shop in the city. The upgraded offices act as the major referral shop for the group in the Matabeleland region.
The shop’s reopening after its closure in April to pave way for refurbishment, will offer improved access, bring convenience and create a vastly improved customer experience.
“We are truly committed to the experience our customers have when they come to interact with us in our shops, hence our effort to ensure that this shop is as good as the best a customer can experience anywhere in the world,” said Mr Makuni.
“In renovating the shop, we have expanded the number of service points, adapted the shop for customers that are differently-abled as well as enhanced service points for our platinum partners and those requiring specialised services.
“The objective of all of this being to ensure that our customers can quickly access services when they come to the shop and at the same time enjoy the experience,” he said.
The one-stop-shop will physically serve thousands of customers every month, who buy airtime, handsets and SIM cards, conduct banking services or get assistance on EcoCash queries, among other things.
The Econet shop, located in the Bulawayo Central Business District, now has an all-new, completely refurbished interior layout, with a spacious and customer-friendly ambiance, featuring a mix of state-ofthe-art, self-service technology and conventional, face-to-face counters.
The building’s meeting rooms, and office space have also been fully redesigned, with the entire roof of the building now overlaid with solar panels, to ensure clean energy supply for the building.
Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company deputy chief executive officer, Ms Stella Nkomo, who was the guest of honour at the event, commended Econet for instilling investor confidence in the region with its major shop upgrade.
“This development not only shows Econet’s commitment to serving the Matabeleland region, but is also a promise to improve service delivery, the utilisation of new network technologies, the strengthening of partnerships with business stakeholders as well as the increase in employment opportunities,” she said.
“The multi-million-dollar refurbishment exercise will improve service to the Matabeleland region clientele while simultaneously boosting investor confidence in the regions,” Ms Nkomo said.
She noted that it was companies like Econet that play a critical role in creating an innovative ecosystem that attracts bright and talented people to come to Bulawayo to create new opportunities and enterprises.
“Econet continues to increase business linkages through the provision of communication solutions, which are tailor-made for various industries.
“Moreover, the company continues to create employment opportunities to local residents by employing Econet staff and supporting downstream channel partners, comprising over 4 000 vendors and resellers,” said Ms Nkomo.
HOSPITALITY group, African Sun Limited, says the recovery in international tourist arrivals and general rise in room occupancy will likely continue as the year progresses leading into the peak summer season.
Having recorded a generally gradual and consistent increase in occupancy in the period to June 2022, closing at 54 percent compared with 28 percent recorded in January 2022, the group says prospects seem brighter ahead.
During the first quarter of the year, the country’s tourism sector registered 352 719 arrivals, up from 164 064 during the same period last year.
The surge was a 115 percent increase in tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2021.
Tourism receipts also increased by 121 percent this year to $337,5 million.
In an update for the period to June, group chairman, Mr Emmanuel Fundira, said although the recovery has been sustained mainly by the domestic market, uptick in international arrivals was encouraging.
“The group’s business continues to be predominantly domestic driven. However, we have also started to witness signs of recovery on the regional and international market front,” he said.
Foreign business contributed 15 percent towards hospitality revenue, representing a seven percentage point increase from the same period last year.
Mr Fundira said this year tourist arrival levels reflect a recovery of 46 percent compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
“Based on data from STR — a global hospitality industry benchmarking and marketplace insights provider, global occupancy rates increased to 66 percent in June 2022 in comparison to 43 percent in January 2022.
“During the same period, the group also recorded a generally gradual and consistent increase in occupancy, closing June 2022 with 54 percent compared with 28 percent recorded in January 2022,” said Mr Fundira.
He said the uptick in international arrivals is gathering pace and points towards a strong second-half of the year leading into our peak summer season.
Mr Fundira said the first-half of the year delivered performance that exceeded the group’s initial expectation.
“Zimbabwe, like many destinations across the globe, continues to witness encouraging signs of a much accelerated recovery to the pre-pandemic tourism arrival levels,” he said.
Inspite of the prevailing global economic and geopolitical challenges, the UNTWO revised its outlook for 2022, projecting that international arrivals are now expected to reach 55 percent to 70 percent of 2019 levels.
“We expect recovery of our international business to continue into the second-half of the year,” said Mr Fundira.