NetOne maintains old data tariffs, appeals to regulator to revise its position

Nigel Gambanga Avatar
Mobile Telecoms, Zimbabwean telecoms,

NetOne, Zimbabwe’s second largest mobile operator and a State owned entity is yet to adopt the new mobile data bundles tariffs set by POTRAZ, the telecoms regulator, and it has now emerged that NetOne has appealed to POTRAZ to review the new tariffs.

Earlier this month POTRAZ issued a directive to all mobile network operators advising them of new floor prices for voice calls and mobile data bundles effective from the 9th of January 2017 which would set voice calls at a minimum of 12 cents and data bundles at a price of at least 2 cents per megabyte (MB).

For NetOne the new tariffs would mean a major adjustment or scrapping of its main broadband product called One Fusion which was anticipated to lead its efforts in market share growth and profitability.

In an article published in the Chronicle, NetOne’s acting CEO, Brian Mutandiro was quoted as having confirmed that they were yet to adopt the new tariffs but were consulting POTRAZ regarding the adoption of the new prices.

So far Econet, the country’s largest mobile operator and the only that’s privately owned has been the only operator to comply with the directive. It was heavily criticised by subscribers who are now faced with high costs for internet access.

If NetOne’s petition is successful it could result in a revision of the new tariff structure, giving NetOne and other operators willing to charge lower prices for data an opportunity to do so.

17 comments

  1. Anonymous

    Isu pa Netone pfeeee!

  2. Tafmakura

    So let me get this straight, government is regulating minimum prices too? A year ago they where implementing the exact opposite policy. How about free market economics?

  3. Anonymous

    the regulation is for minimum prices for bundles and promotions and not ordinary data like u get from wifi… can someone explain this

    1. Dee

      The directive was directed at MNOs only, Econet, NetOne and Telecel because some of them claimed that they needed to be protected.

  4. King

    Hahahah I don’t know why I smell a rat, econet yes was the first to change pries (though) they charged more than the floor price set of $0.02/1mb. It seems its it’s a plot to get pple switch to these Gvt owned MNOs. Hameno we always come up with conspiracies but so far Gvt is winning Econet losing I have now atleast 10 frends switching to either Netone or Telecel!

    1. Dee

      Conspiracy are you serious? Econet were only too happy to screw their customers. Why are they charging 5 times the minimum. If they had been forced indeed they would have been charging the set minimum. And why Was Econet in such as rush to hike prices? Everyone else is being passive aggressive.

  5. Dhivhah

    Econet ikurohwa chekuseri apa nhasi chaiye am goin to OneFusion that

  6. DANIEL CHAKACHA

    and then the regulator says the service providers have suggested the price hike and now am wondering which service provider because Net one and Telecel haven’t increased and are pleading for the reduction of the tarrifs. Its confusing.Internet has vast important information that can be used to forward a nation but with this kinda attitude now we will be permanently stagnant.

  7. x

    hahahaha Seems like gvt is playing dirty on Econet….. econet wants to play all good boy this year kkkk …may be thus their new years resolution,u never know ey … Econet better wake up !!

  8. cmak

    good for you netone i am a fan of one fusion and i have been saving

  9. Anonymous

    Net1 chi extraterrestrial one fusion mwedzi wese uchitora kana 20 Mb video ko kutyei..econet unorihwa bag ukatanga kunyepera varoyi kuti vakakuroya

  10. Dhivhah

    uuuuuuhmmm !!! seems like econet z th only service provider who suggested th price hike.

    Viva OneFusion

  11. titi

    hahaha wish netone will just remain cool

  12. Dr DM

    when they were asked to slash down Econet was the last one to adjust and now they hev been given the floor to hike and they are the first one ,,,,why are they on the rush

  13. Chief Of Protocol ??

    Like a snake ?, Mboweni and Co have no legs to stand on. POTRAZ says $0.02/MB then Econet jacks it up to $0.10/MB, Econet fell on its own sword here

  14. AnnonTechSavy

    Im starting to believe that Techzim is Anti-Econet because it only talked about Econet’s new tariffs and yet NetOne has even more expensive tariffs than Econet.Same applies with Telecel. They are not talking about that. instead they lie that Netone has maintained its old tariffs. Its one thing that the Regulalator Bullies Econet, but a much worse thing for the media to do the same. (Netone Tarrifs are get more expensive as the bundles get larger compared to Econet)

  15. Man Fidza

    econet guys better be careful because the way people are buying netone and telecel lines is not a good sign for them.I think the same verve they had when the voice calls were slashed from 23c/min to 16c/min is the same verve they should have right now if they really care about us as subscribers

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