Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe’s digital transformation agenda continues to gather pace, with internet and data usage soaring by more than 57 percent in the first quarter of 2026, underpinned by rapid expansion of 5G infrastructure, growing smartphone adoption, and increased consumption of digital services.
In a media briefing, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Soda Zhemu, said Cabinet had noted the Postal and Telecommunications Sector Performance Report for the first quarter of 2026, which highlighted robust growth across the country’s telecommunications landscape despite challenges facing some segments of the industry.
The report, presented to Cabinet by the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, showed that the sector remains a critical pillar in driving Zimbabwe’s digital economy under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the Smart Zimbabwe 2030 Master Plan, the National ICT Policy and the newly adopted National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026-2030).
“The report highlighted key trends within the sector, growth prospects, emerging challenges and strategic interventions being implemented,” Zhemu said.
He added that information and communication technologies continue to occupy a central role in modernizing the country’s economy.
“Information, communication technologies and telecommunications remain central to the national digital transformation agenda under National Development Strategy 2, the Smart Zimbabwe 2030 Master Plan, the National ICT Policy, and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026-2030),” he said.
According to the report, active mobile subscriptions increased by 2.99 percent during the first quarter, while mobile penetration rose by 1.5 percent across all mobile network operators, reflecting sustained growth in access to telecommunications services.
The most notable development was a remarkable 57.28 percent increase in internet and data traffic, attributed largely to accelerated deployment of LTE and fifth-generation (5G) infrastructure, wider smartphone ownership and growing use of digital platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Netflix.
To support rising demand for high-speed connectivity, telecommunications operators continued expanding network infrastructure during the quarter.
An additional 13 fifth-generation (5G) base stations were commissioned, bringing the national total to 379. The country also added 161 LTE base stations, 85 third-generation (3G) stations and 68 second-generation (2G) sites to improve network coverage and service quality.
“Government commends the efforts by all players in the sector, which are accelerating progress,” Zhemu said.
The report further noted that Zimbabwe is steadily transitioning from traditional voice services towards a data-driven telecommunications market, while the fixed telephone segment continued to maintain stable performance.
International connectivity also improved during the period, with bandwidth capacity increasing by 4.03 percent to 1,756,770 Mbps, enhancing the country’s ability to support growing digital traffic and emerging technologies.
In another major milestone, fibre optic infrastructure expanded significantly. Fibre network coverage more than doubled from 4,046 kilometres to 8,500 kilometres, while the country’s total fibre backbone grew by 33.83 percent to surpass 19,000 kilometres.
The report also highlighted the growing impact of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology, particularly through Starlink, which has significantly improved internet access in under-served and remote communities.
Government said the Presidential Internet Scheme is playing an important role in leveraging LEO technology to bridge the digital divide and extend connectivity to areas previously beyond the reach of conventional telecommunications infrastructure.
The emergence of artificial intelligence technologies is also expected to drive further investment in digital infrastructure.
Zhemu said the implementation of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026-2030) is already creating increasing demand for high-capacity, low-latency connectivity capable of supporting AI-powered applications and digital innovation.
While telecommunications continued to record impressive gains, the report noted that the Postal and Courier Services sub-sector experienced a recovery in mail volumes during the quarter but continues to face financial sustainability challenges amid changing market dynamics.
Meanwhile, the Government expects the Postal and Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill, 2025, currently before Parliament, to modernize the country’s regulatory framework in line with rapidly evolving technologies and market developments.
Once enacted, the legislation is expected to strengthen regulation across the postal and telecommunications sector, ensuring Zimbabwe remains well-positioned to harness opportunities presented by digital transformation, artificial intelligence and next-generation connectivity.
New Ziana
