The Zimbabwe National Broadband Plan (2020–2030)

April 2020

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Strategies and Action Plans

Author: Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services (MoICTPCS) in partnership with the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ).

The Zimbabwe National Broadband Plan (2020–2030) is a comprehensive strategy aimed at transforming the country into an inclusive digital society and enabling economic growth through the expansion of broadband access. Below is a detailed breakdown of the plan, organised into its major components:

1. Vision and goals

The plan envisions ‘a highly connected Information Society enabled by universal and reliable broadband networks, services and applications, by 2030.‘

To achieve this, it sets out five overarching goals:

Growth: Achieve 100% broadband coverage and increase adoption to support economic development.
Inclusivity: Ensure broadband is accessible and affordable for everyone, regardless of location.
Sustainability: Address risks related to broadband growth, such as infrastructure resilience, data protection, and environmental impact.
Innovation: Promote broadband-enabled innovation through research, development, and partnerships.
Collaboration: Foster coordinated national, regional, and international partnerships.

2. Broadband infrastructure (supply side)

The plan highlights the need for significant infrastructure investment:

Fibre backbone and middle-mile connectivity: The national fibre backbone needs expansion to connect all districts.
Base stations: 350 shared base stations and MORAN sites are planned to improve rural access.
Data centres: Only one government-operated data centre exists; more carrier-neutral centres are needed.
Devices: Smartphone penetration is low (~15%) due to affordability and foreign currency issues.
Internet exchange points (IXPs): The two current IXPs (HIX and ZINX) need to be merged and optimised.

3. Key broadband projects

Several flagship projects are earmarked to support this infrastructure push:

Project	Objective	Estimated Cost	Stakeholders
Regional Internet Exchange Points	Reduce international bandwidth cost	$100,000/month	Govt, POTRAZ, operators
National fibre backbone	Expand backbone reach	Unspecified	Govt, POTRAZ, operators
MORAN base stations	Increase connectivity	$150M	Govt, MoICTP&CSs, operators
Innovation hubs	Boost R&D and entrepreneurship	$1.5M	MoH&TE, POTRAZ
Data centre in Bulawayo	Improve data storage	$10M	Govt, POTRAZ, operators

4. Demand stimulation

The plan identifies several barriers to adoption—high costs, limited content, digital illiteracy—and proposes solutions:

Affordability: Zimbabweans spend ~10.1% of their income on 1GB of data (well above the 2% target by A4AI).
Content: Most content is entertainment-focused; little is developed for agriculture, health, education, etc.
Digital literacy: Many users, especially in rural areas, lack the skills to effectively use broadband services.
Trust and confidence: Issues such as cyber insecurity and lack of privacy laws discourage use.

5. Funding strategies

Funding is a major concern, with most equipment requiring foreign currency. The plan suggests a mix of:

Public funding: Government budget allocations, expanded Universal Service Fund, donor funding.
Private investment: Loans, equity, partnerships with global tech firms.
Incentives: Tax breaks for infrastructure projects, bonds, export credit schemes.
PPPs: Municipal partnerships with pension funds, local and international banks.

6. Implementation and governance

A National Broadband Committee will oversee:

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) using Results-Based Management (RBM).
Regular stakeholder engagement and updates (every 6 months).
KPI tracking in areas like coverage, affordability, innovation, and infrastructure growth.