Zimbabwe has taken a further step towards strengthening regional digital infrastructure following the activation of the first phase of a new high capacity fibre optic corridor developed through a partnership between Powertel Communications and Paratus Zimbabwe.
The newly commissioned section connects Plumtree and Bulawayo and forms the initial stage of a wider regional network that is expected to link Zimbabwe with Botswana, Zambia and South Africa before integrating into the broader Paratus telecommunications network across Southern Africa. The project is being implemented under a public private partnership agreement signed in June 2025 between Powertel Communications and Paratus Zimbabwe.
The initiative combines Powertel’s existing national fibre backbone with Paratus’s regional telecommunications infrastructure and technical expertise. Both organisations are investing as equal partners in the long term development of the network, which is intended to increase regional connectivity and improve data transmission capacity across national borders.
According to the companies, the newly activated route is built on Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing technology, allowing multiple data signals to be transmitted simultaneously across a single optical fibre. The completed system has the technical capability to carry more than 10 terabits per second of traffic, although the infrastructure has initially been commissioned with an equipped capacity of 800 gigabits per second.
The first operational segment represents the beginning of a broader infrastructure programme that is expected to continue northwards. Construction is already under way on the Bulawayo to Livingstone section, with the second phase scheduled for completion during September. Once operational, the extension will establish a continuous telecommunications corridor linking South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Speaking during the launch, Powertel Communications Acting Managing Director Willard Nyagwande said the infrastructure remains owned and operated by Powertel in its capacity as Zimbabwe’s licensed national telecommunications carrier. He explained that Paratus is supporting the commercial model through an Indefeasible Right of Use agreement, a widely recognised framework in the global telecommunications sector that provides long term access rights to network infrastructure while supporting investment certainty.
Nyagwande said the arrangement demonstrates how strategic partnerships can support the development of nationally owned digital infrastructure while attracting private sector participation to expand connectivity across the region.
Martin Cox, Chief Commercial Officer of the Paratus Group, said the activation of the first phase represented an important milestone in delivering the objectives established when the partnership was announced.
He said the investment extends beyond telecommunications infrastructure by supporting the digital foundations required for economic activity, regional integration and broader access to high quality connectivity. Cox added that the completed route will further strengthen Paratus’s contiguous network spanning South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The project reflects a wider trend across Southern Africa, where governments and private sector operators continue investing in terrestrial fibre infrastructure to improve digital resilience, reduce reliance on individual international gateways and increase redundancy across regional communications networks. Improved terrestrial connectivity has become increasingly significant as governments seek to expand digital public services, encourage investment in technology industries and support growing demand for cloud services, financial technology and cross border digital commerce.
Zimbabwe’s geographical position places it at the centre of several regional transport and communications corridors, creating opportunities for the country to serve as an important digital transit hub linking inland Southern Africa with multiple international submarine cable landing stations on both the eastern and western coasts of the continent.
During the launch ceremony, Mutapa Investment Fund Head of Energy and Trading Tinashe Yafele described the project as supporting Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 agenda together with the National Development Strategy and the country’s Digital Economy Strategy. He said expanding reliable digital infrastructure has the potential to strengthen services across sectors including education, healthcare, electronic government platforms, financial services and commercial enterprise.
Yafele encouraged both organisations to complete the remaining stages of the project in order to realise the full regional benefits of the corridor.
The partnership between Powertel and Paratus also reflects the increasing role of African institutions and companies in developing infrastructure through regional collaboration. Rather than relying solely on international connectivity routes, projects of this nature contribute towards building interconnected African digital ecosystems capable of supporting economic integration under initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, where digital infrastructure is increasingly recognised as an important enabler of cross border trade, innovation and investment.
As work continues towards Livingstone, the completed corridor is expected to enhance network diversity, improve resilience for telecommunications operators and enterprise customers, and provide additional capacity to support growing digital demand across Southern Africa. While the full economic impact will emerge over time, the activation of the first phase represents a tangible addition to the region’s expanding digital infrastructure and illustrates the continued importance of collaborative investment in Africa’s connectivity landscape.
