Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has approved an adjustment in voice tariffs for mobile network operators in a move analysts and market players believe will help forestall dim prospects in the telecoms sector.
Recently, Potraz released a circular announcing it had approved a tariff adjustment for voice calls by just over 182 percent from 17 cents per minute to 48 cents per minute on average, a move seen as a way of cushioning the industry from a plethora of challenges, including a weakening local currency against the US dollar and unprecedented power cuts that have almost brought the industry to its knees.
The Zimbabwean dollar has been weakening since the introduction of the interbank market back in February and is now trading at 1:10 from a parity rate of 1:1. MNOs also have to contend with the cost of international bandwidth, an imported commodity, which must be settled in foreign currency.
For mobile network operators, the need to continuously upgrade their networks, both hardware and software, means the availability of foreign currency is key.
Source: https://www.herald.co.zw/potraz-approves-tariff-adjustment/
