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Tinashe Makichi Business Reporter
Zimbabwe’s fixed line operator, TelOne is expecting a four percent increase in revenue this year as the company remains bullish about its prospects. The company successfully managed to increase its revenue base by collecting debts in excess of $100 by the end of December 2014 and one of its biggest debtors was Government and private customers.

“TelOne envisages a four percent increase in revenue this year and for the period under review we collected in excess of $100 million.

“We are excited about the prospects of 2015 as TelOne is poised for growth both in our coverage and revenue.

The company was owed about $190 million.

“TelOne will continue deploying fibre to the home through a Gigabit Passive Optical Network ,” said TelOne corporate communications manager Ms Melody Harry last week.

TelOne is currently deploying connectivity to Harare ( Mt Pleasant Heights, Goodhope, Tynwald, Westgate, New Marlborough, Prospect Park), Mutare, Norton, Ngezi, Ruwa and Zvishavane .

“These fibre projects will enable residents to enjoy internet services at home at very high speeds of up to 100 Mbps,” she said.

The company also intends to set up a Data Centre which will see TelOne offer customers the opportunity to rent virtualised servers, provision of software developing and testing platforms as well as web and email hosting services among other benefits.

She said the data centre will also be rolled out with an advanced customer relations management and billing system.

Ms Harry said the company’s capital plan is still under discussion and subject to approval by the Shareholder in this first quarter.

“It will be premature to provide definite numbers.

“However, our projects for the year will be focusing on expanding broadband connectivity in the country as well as improvement of our Client Services Systems,” she said.

She said projects earmarked for the year will be funded from various sources which include internal TelOne funding and loans secured from various sources with the support from the Shareholder which is the Government of Zimbabwe.