THE Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of
Zimbabwe (Potraz) has with immediate effect approved a 57 percent upward review
for voice, data and SMS tariffs to catch up with the “constantly rising
operating costs” affecting the telecoms sector.
Potraz said the current prices have become sub economic due
to the continual deterioration of the country’s economy, hence the increase
intends to maintain sustainable operations within the company’s
telecommunications’ business, according to a circular to operators seen by The
Herald Finance & Business.
“Tariff thresholds for telecommunication services were last
adjusted in October last year using the August 2019 Telecommunication Price
Index (TPI) figures.
“The current tariff thresholds have been rendered
unsustainable as the operating environment continues to deteriorate due to
constantly rising operating costs.
“Accordingly, the authority has found it necessary to
review tariff thresholds for telecommunication services by up to 56,64 percent
based on the TPI, for the period October to December 2019 that was computed in
consultation with operators,” said Potraz director general Gift Machengete in a
statement released yesterday.
Prices for on net calls per minute, SMS per message and
mobile data per megabyte moved up from $0,75, $0,19 and $0,15 to $1,17, $0,30
and $0,23 respectively.
Meanwhile, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe (EWZ) recently made an
average of 20 percent upward review for its SMS and data bundle prices aligning
them with the prevailing inflation rate.
Econet Group Media and Corporate Affairs Executive Fungai
Mandiveyi confirmed the data bundle and SMS price increment.
“The review is on average, a 20 percent adjustment to try
and catch up with inflation and other rising costs – including electricity and
diesel and it is well within the authorised threshold.”
The new data tariffs, which came into effect on Wednesday,
come as a result of the significant weakening of local currency which has lost 93 percent of its value from 1: 2,5 when the
interbank rate was introduced in February to the current 1:40. Herald
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