Business Reporters
Telecommunications giant Econet Wireless Zimbabwe is considering introducing 5G long-term evolution technology as part of the company’s long-term plans to improve convenience among its clients. The company is also focusing on expanding its current 4G long-term evolution to areas across the country.
The 4G network type is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals.
Econet has coverage for 4G network in Beatrice, Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls and the company has also targeted the largest entry to South Africa, which is the Beitbridge Border Post.
Econet Wireless group chief executive Mr Douglas Mboweni said the company is considering rolling out 5G network in the near future.
“We launched 4G network at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation in Victoria Falls last year and as we speak we are looking at expanding it to other areas. So it is part of our investment programme.
“The reason I talked about 5G is because countries like South Korea are already experimenting with some of these technologies and in Africa we do not have to reinvent the wheel but to look at what is being applied elsewhere,” said Mr Mboweni.
“There is still a lot of work to be done in 3G and as soon as we find out that 5G is ready and rolling out we will be quick to embrace it and our concern is to make sure that our customers enjoy fast network on their devices.”
Mr Mboweni said the company’s investments are going to be dictated by need. “There is enough infrastructure to drive speed and we are looking at new technology that we can deploy to keep improving our speed.
“The company, through Liquid Telecoms is putting fibre infrastructure according to priority,” Mr Mboweni said.
Econet Wireless yesterday officially opened its Platinum suite at Sam levy, a facility that is set to add convenience to top level customers of the company.