TECHNOLOGY outfit Powertel Communications said this week it is pursuing domestic and foreign partners to roll out a new optical ground wire (OPGW) project and bolster internet connectivity.
Willard Nyagwande, acting managing director at Powertel, could not disclose how much the project will cost.
But it is part of a broad expansion strategy that includes a plan called ‘Connecting the Unconnected, Our Response to National Vision 2030’, which will see the Zesa Holdings unit connecting 7 700 schools, 2 000 clinics, 1 000 police stations and 900 000 homes, according to an investment prospectus seen by the Zimbabwe Independent.
The OPGW, which is also called optical fibre composite overhead ground wire, is a cable that is used in overhead power lines, and Powertel will leverage on its strategic position as part of the Zesa group to pursue the powerline deals.
Over 3 000 kilometres of fibre optic cable will be installed, according to Powertel, for IP transit, power network control, backbone services for broadband, smart grid, and rural datafication.
An IP transit service is where an internet service provider allows traffic to cross its network in order to reach a destination.
“We are looking for local and international partners, who want to use our overhead Zesa pylons for fibre connections and we want to raise revenue from that area,” Nyagwande said.
“These overhead pylons are (effective) when tracking faults and we believe if we take advantage of this, we will achieve our goal to transform the nation through better connectivity.”
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Powertel has committed 20% of its budget to research and development innovation drive, according to Nyagwande.
“We are investing 20% of our budget towards research and with this we are aiming to achieve a digitally connected Zimbabwe,” he said.
Nyagwande said 75% of work had been completed under a network expansion project covering Beitbridge, Gwanda, and Bulawayo.
The company has indicated it intends to improve the availability of affordable internet through eight internet gateways.
In 2023, Powertel announced it would inject over US$570 million in network expansion across the country. The programme would be rolled out in phases until 2030, Nyagwande told this publication last year.
Under Vision 2030, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has spelt out his administration’s plans to transform Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income economy.
According to Powertel’s network investment roadmap seen by the Independent last year, up to US$355 million will be invested into fixed access, while over US$50 million will go to long-term evolution (LTE), fifth generation (5G) and national backbone network.
The technology firm plans to spend US$23 million in the national backbone network.
