- Econet deployed 103 new base stations in Q3 2025, including 27 lightweight units targeting underserved urban and rural areas
- The company is advancing an autonomous, AI-powered network with a new billing and subscription platform to deliver hyper-personalized, customer-centric digital services
- Data usage rose 50%, voice usage 35%, EcoCash activity up 28%, wallet funding surged 91%, while insurance and medical services contributed to diversified revenue streams
Harare - Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, the pre-eminent telecommunications operator in the region, has deployed 103 new base stations and sites aimed at improving coverage in historically underserved areas and meeting the rising demand driven by urbanization according to the latest trading update for the third quarter ended 30 November 2025.
Of these, 27 are lightweight, cost-effective units designed to serve developing urban neighbourhoods and rural communities, reflecting a strategic focus on inclusivity and scalability.
According to the company, these deployments form the foundation for future innovations, enabling the introduction of new products and the activation of Internet of Things (IoT) applications that could unlock new revenue streams.
‘’ The business is strategically driving towards an autonomous network with capabilities that are designed to prevent and mitigate disruptions by using AI and machine learning,’’ the company said.
The network expansion comes alongside the final stages of deploying a new billing and subscription platform intended to automate core business processes and deliver more personalized, customer-centric experiences.
This move signals a strategic shift from legacy models towards digital-first operations, positioning Econet to respond more agilely to consumer demands and emerging market opportunities. The completion of the core network expansion for voice and data services further enhances the quality of service, providing both reliability and capacity for continued growth.
Artificial intelligence is playing a central role in this transformation. Econet is pursuing an autonomous network capable of self-configuring, self-optimizing, self-healing, and self-learning, which not only improves operational efficiency but also strengthens network security.
AI applications are also being leveraged to analyse customer behaviour, enabling real-time, hyper-personalized services.
In terms of the financial performance, these operational improvements are translating into tangible performance gains with data usage a primary growth driver rising by more than 50% year-on-year, while voice usage increased 35%.
These figures highlight the success of the network expansion strategy in both retaining customers and capturing rising demand.
Mobile financial services also demonstrated strong momentum , EcoCash saw a 28% increase in customer activity, transaction volumes grew 36%, and wallet funding jumped 91% compared to the same period last year.
The insurance segment contributed to diversified revenue streams, with individual life policies up 10%, short-term insurance policies up 81%, and medical aid membership rising 9%.
Strategically, Econet has reorganized its real estate and passive telecommunications assets into a separate entity, Econet Infrastructure Company (Econet InfraCo), with plans to delist from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and list Econet InfraCo on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, subject to regulatory approvals.
This move is an effort to unlock shareholder value, providing greater visibility of asset performance, clearer capital allocation, and a more focused approach to infrastructure management.
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