Econet 2020 Annual Report cites high tariffs as cause of low mobile penetration in Zimbabwe

 Zimbabwe based African mobile network operator Econet Wireless has released its 2020 annual report. The report covers the regulatory, operational, and financial aspects of the Zimbabwe telecommunications environment as well as the company’s performance. It notes that smartphone penetration in Zimbabwe remains at a paltry 52% compared to neighbouring South Africa, which is at 90%. This is despite Econet – the largest network operator in Zimbabwe – providing about 90% coverage for 3G and 4G services. The report calls for a revision of a 2014 law that imposed a 25% excise duty on mobile phones in order to increase the affordability of smartphones.