Econet Wireless Zimbabwe celebrates 14th anniversary

The 10th of July marks the date Econet Wireless Zimbabwe was granted its GSM mobile network operating license back in 1998. Today, the company celebrates its 14th anniversary. In press adverts celebrating the occasion, the company expresses pride of its position as leader in the local telecoms market despite being granted an operating license after its competitors, state owned NetOne and now VimpelCom owned Telecel.

The Econet founding story and launch of network under the leadership of one of Africa’s most successful entrepreneurs Strive Masiyiwa, is one of a protracted battle with the authorities that lasted some 5 years. You can read more about it here.

Currently Econet Wireless International, now the parent company of the Zimbabwean entity, has operations in Lesotho, Burundi and Nigeria among other countries.

Update: We have just been advised by Econet that while the license for Econet to operate was officially signed in July 1998, the company considers the landmark High Court ruling of December 31, 1997, granting Econet a license, as the day on which it was licensed.