[2008-07-22]  Econet closes in on a million subscribers, having increased connected lines to 870 000
Econet Wireless is closing in on a million subscribers having dramatically increased the number of connected lines from 654 000 to 870 000 in the last few weeks. This further broadens Econet's market share and consolidates its position as the largest mobile phone company in Zimbabwe.

In a market update confirming the increase in the company's subscriber base, Econet chief executive Mr Douglas Mboweni said more than 220 000 lines had been sold following the increase in the capacity of the pre-paid system. He said attention is now being focused on completing the next phase of expansion, which will take the company's subscriber capacity to 1.3 million by the end of November this year.

International contractors that had suspended work on Econet's expansion programme during the March elections had since returned and were now busy working on the project which, when completed, would enable Econet to release an additional 400 000 lines over the Christmas period.

Swedish telecom equipment manufacturer Ericsson is providing equipment to expand the core network, which is made up of the switching systems, Intelligent Network platforms, prepaid systems, as well as new base stations in Harare, Mashonaland and Manicaland; whilst ZTE of China is supplying radio base stations for the southern parts of the country, covering areas such as Bulawayo urban and its environs, Masvingo, Midlands, and the Matabeleland provinces. The Chinese company will also build new sites in remote rural areas as well as along the national highways.

Source: Company's site