Mobile data becomes Zimbabwe telecoms’ biggest business as digital use surges

Zimbabwe’s telecom industry is being reshaped by one clear change: mobile data has become the biggest source of revenue for network operators, reflecting how people now use their phones more for internet access than for traditional calls and text messages. 

That change is unfolding as smartphone adoption rises, digital payments become more common, and more consumers rely on streaming platforms, messaging apps and online business tools in their daily lives.

Across cities and smaller communities, internet access is becoming a basic service that supports commerce, communication and entertainment. 

New figures from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) show just how quickly that shift is taking hold.

Mobile data now accounts for more than half of total revenue earned by mobile network operators, marking a significant change in how telecom companies make money. 

For years, voice calls were the backbone of the sector.

Today, data usage is driving growth, shaping investment decisions and pushing operators to improve network quality as demand for faster and more reliable connections continues to climb. 

The result is a telecom market increasingly built around digital access, with operators, investors and policymakers paying closer attention to broadband coverage, infrastructure spending and new technologies that can widen connectivity.

Data demand rises sharply 

The scale of Zimbabwe’s digital shift is becoming clearer in usage patterns.

In the first quarter of 2025, mobile data traffic rose 17.3 percent to 114 petabytes, a sign of strong and growing demand for internet services across the country. 

Satellite internet is also playing a larger role.

Starlink accounted for most of the growth in used incoming international internet capacity, highlighting how alternative broadband services are helping expand access, particularly in areas where traditional network infrastructure remains limited.

Operators invest despite cost pressure 

Network operators are continuing to invest heavily to meet rising demand.

Fifth-generation base station deployments increased by more than 53 percent during the quarter, as telecom companies expand faster networks and gradually move away from aging 2G and 3G systems. 

But growth is coming with financial strain.

While active mobile subscriptions rose to nearly 15.9 million, total sector revenue fell 4.2 percent to ZWG 6.15 billion, while operating costs climbed sharply, squeezing margins and increasing pressure on profitability.

A broader shift in the economy 

What is happening in telecom reflects a wider change in Zimbabwe’s economy.

Reliable internet is becoming more closely tied to banking, education, business operations and access to digital services. 

For Zimbabwe, the rise of mobile data is no longer simply a telecom story.

It is increasingly part of a broader economic shift toward a more connected, digital-first future.