By Kudakwashe Matizanadzo
Harare- STATE-owned mobile operator NetOne has expanded its network coverage to between 85 and 90 percent of Zimbabwe’s population, Group Chief Executive Engineer Raphael Mushanawani said, framing digital infrastructure as a driver of national economic productivity.
Speaking at the Mid-Term Economic Review and High-Level Policy Dialogue in Harare this week, Eng Mushanawani said the company’s subscriber base now exceeds 4.1 million users citing ongoing investment in network modernisation and resilience.
“These are not just investments in connectivity. They are investments in national productivity,” Mushanawani said.
“Our philosophy is simple: Every investment in network expansion must translate into economic expansion.”
The figures align with data from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ).
NetOne recorded 4,
101,492 active subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from 4,062,894 in the previous quarter.
The operator remains Zimbabwe’s second-largest mobile network.
NetOne’s coverage claims are consistent with earlier statements. At the company’s annual general meeting, Mushanawani said 2G coverage stood at 87% of the population, 3G at 76%, and 4G at 41%.
The operator has deployed 264 4G/LTE sites nationwide and launched 5G and eSIM services in 2024.
He cited rural reach as NetOne’s competitive edge, and said the company accounts for 46.14% of Zimbabwe’s rural base stations.
“Our competitive advantage lies in our rural coverage with quality network,” he said.
Mushanawani said improving economic conditions, including a drop in annual ZiG inflation to 4.1% in January 2026 are increasing demand for voice, data and digital financial services. NetOne is rolling out ICT labs in rural schools, community hubs and 4G expansion in underserved districts as part of its “Digitalise Zimbabwe” initiatives.
The company positions itself as a “co-author” of Zimbabwe’s digital transformation agenda under the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
