TelOne Zimbabwe

TelOne Zimbabwe is a government-owned telecommunications company headquartered in Harare. It operates Zimbabwe's largest fixed-line network and is the country's sole provider of fixed landline services. In addition to retailing voice and internet services, TelOne supplies transmission, backhaul, wholesale connectivity and infrastructure services to mobile operators, internet service providers, businesses and other communications companies. The company emerged from the restructuring of the Posts and Telecommunications Corporation of Zimbabwe (PTC). PTC was created after independence through legislation that consolidated postal and telecommunications functions under a national corporation. Subsequent reforms divided those activities into separate entities: TelOne became the fixed telecommunications company, NetOne became the mobile operator and ZimPost became the postal company. The commercialisation and operational separation of the three businesses took place around 2000. TelOne remains wholly owned by the Zimbabwean government and is overseen through the ministry responsible for information and communications technology and courier services. Its public-sector ownership gives it a strategic role in national connectivity, while also exposing it to the financial and operational pressures affecting Zimbabwe's telecommunications market. The company is regulated by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe. Its infrastructure includes fixed-line exchanges, optical-fibre networks, radio systems, satellite facilities and national transmission assets. TelOne operates both as an internet access provider, carrying traffic and backhaul for other operators, and as an internet service provider selling connectivity directly to households, enterprises and wholesale customers. Its service portfolio has included ADSL, fibre-to-the-home, public Wi-Fi, leased internet, virtual private networks, international private leased circuits, metro backhaul, voice over IP and SIP services. TelOne also provides satellite broadband using C-band, Ka-band and related VSAT technologies. Its enterprise portfolio extends into data-centre and hosting services, cloud services, backup and disaster recovery, rack-space rental, security and managed connectivity. The company's wholesale division offers network transport, IP, voice, satellite, mobility and other digital services to carriers, cable companies, content providers and wireless operators. A major infrastructure programme began in 2017 with the National Broadband project, reported as a US$98 million investment intended to expand fibre capacity and improve broadband coverage. TelOne's network is used not only for its own services but also as an underlying platform for other communications providers. The company additionally operates a telecommunications equipment factory at Msasa Industrial Park in Harare, producing or repairing items such as microwave towers, telephone handsets and power supplies. Beyond network operations, TelOne maintains a training and education function through the TelOne Centre for Learning. The institution provides information and communications technology certificates, diplomas and short courses, including blended and distance-learning programmes. It was recognised as a Southern African Development Community centre of excellence in 2002 and has developed links with the Computer Society of Zimbabwe and the National University of Science and Technology. TelOne also engages in community support, including assistance to children's homes, orphanages and disadvantaged students, and sponsors TelOne Football Club.

The institutional history behind TelOne reaches back to the colonial postal and telecommunications system. In 1892, the British South Africa Company organised an initial postal operation that functioned under the government ministry responsible for posts and telecommunications. Postal and telecommunications functions later developed into a national public utility and, after Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, were reorganised under the Posts and Telecommunications Corporation of Zimbabwe. The post-independence framework was established through the Zimbabwe Postal Services Amendment Act and related statutory instruments. PTC was given responsibility for both postal and telecommunications services, making it the principal national communications organisation. During the 1980s, legislation provided for the separation and commercialisation of its activities. The intended structure was to create specialised businesses for fixed telecommunications, mobile communications and postal services rather than retain all functions within one corporation. The restructuring produced three successor organisations. TelOne took responsibility for fixed telecommunications, NetOne for cellular mobile services and ZimPost for postal operations. Although the legislative process began earlier, commercialisation and the operational separation of the businesses were completed around 2000. TelOne consequently became the principal fixed-network operator in Zimbabwe and inherited the extensive exchanges, transmission systems, lines and related technical assets developed by the former PTC. TelOne's public ownership remained central to its identity. The company is wholly owned by the Zimbabwean government and is administered through the ministry responsible for information technology and courier services. A ministry-appointed board provides governance, while the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe regulates the sector. This structure makes TelOne both a commercial service provider and an important national infrastructure institution. The company's network has expanded beyond traditional copper-based telephony. It includes fixed exchanges distributed across the country, optical-fibre routes, radio systems and satellite infrastructure, including a satellite base station in the Mazowe area of Mashonaland Central Province. TelOne functions as an internet access provider for transmission and backhaul and as an internet service provider selling internet services to retail and enterprise customers. Its network is also used by other service providers, giving the company a wholesale role in the wider communications ecosystem. Broadband development became an important strategic priority. In 2017 TelOne commenced a National Broadband project reported at approximately US$98 million, with the aim of expanding fibre infrastructure and improving connectivity. The company has supported residential and business access through ADSL, fibre-to-the-home, public Wi-Fi, leased services, VPNs and international private leased circuits. It has also offered satellite connectivity in C-band, Ka-band and Ku-band configurations for customers requiring alternatives to terrestrial access. TelOne diversified into enterprise and infrastructure services including hosting, data centres, cloud computing, backup as a service, disaster recovery, rack-space rental and metro backhaul. Its wholesale division serves fixed and mobile operators, internet providers, content companies and other carriers with voice, IP, capacity, satellite, security, mobility and digital-platform services. The organisation also retains industrial and educational capabilities. Its Msasa Industrial Park factory in Harare manufactures or repairs telecommunications hardware and support equipment, including microwave towers, handsets and power supplies. Its training institution, the TelOne Centre for Learning, originated as an employee-training facility in the 1950s and later opened courses to individuals and corporate customers. The centre received recognition as a SADC centre of excellence in 2002 and offers ICT certificates, diplomas, short courses and distance-learning programmes. It has also developed telecommunications-engineering education with the National University of Science and Technology. In the 2010s, TelOne faced the challenge of collecting overdue accounts in a difficult economic environment. A 2016 debt-recovery initiative sought to recover substantial customer arrears, including unpaid public-sector bills. At the same time, the company pursued broadband investment, enterprise diversification and service improvement. Its public profile has also included corporate social-responsibility support for children's homes, orphanages and disadvantaged students, as well as sponsorship of TelOne Football Club, which competes in Zimbabwe's Premier Soccer League.

• 2017

  National Broadband project

  [1]TelOne Zimbabween.wikipedia.org

  TelOne began a reported US$98 million programme to expand fibre infrastructure and national broadband capacity.

• 2016

  Debt-recovery programme

  [1]TelOne Zimbabween.wikipedia.org

  TelOne engaged debt collectors to pursue major unpaid customer and government accounts, reportedly recovering a substantial portion of the targeted arrears.

• 2002

  TelOne Centre for Learning recognised as a SADC centre of excellence

  [1]TelOne Zimbabween.wikipedia.org

  The company's training centre received recognition enabling it to provide training services more broadly across the Southern African Development Community region.

• 2000

  TelOne established as the fixed-telecommunications successor

  [1]TelOne Zimbabween.wikipedia.org

  The commercial separation of PTC was implemented, with TelOne taking the fixed-network business, NetOne taking mobile services and ZimPost taking postal services.

• 1987

  Unbundling of PTC planned in legislation

  [1]TelOne Zimbabween.wikipedia.org

  Legislation provided for the separation and commercialisation of PTC's postal, fixed-telecommunications and mobile-telecommunications activities.

• 1980

  Creation of the post-independence PTC framework

  [1]TelOne Zimbabween.wikipedia.org

  After Zimbabwean independence, legislation established the Posts and Telecommunications Corporation to provide national postal and telecommunications services.

• 1892

  Early organised postal service

  [1]TelOne Zimbabween.wikipedia.org

  The British South Africa Company organised an early postal operation that formed part of the institutional lineage of Zimbabwe's later postal and telecommunications system.

A strategic, state-owned national telecommunications infrastructure provider combining Zimbabwe's largest fixed-line network with broadband, wholesale connectivity, satellite, enterprise technology and ICT-training services.

• Telephony

  Fixed-line voice

  TelOne operates Zimbabwe's largest fixed-line network and is described as the country's sole fixed landline provider. Its voice portfolio has included ordinary residential and business landlines, prepaid fixed-line services, postpaid connections, voice over IP and SIP lines.

• Internet access

  Broadband and internet access

  The company provides internet access through technologies and services including ADSL, fibre-to-the-home, public Wi-Fi, leased internet and wholesale access. TelOne also supplies transmission and backhaul capacity to other communications operators.

• Satellite communications

  Satellite Broadband Solutions

  TelOne offers satellite connectivity using C-band, Ka-band and Ku-band-related solutions and VSAT technology. These services provide an alternative or complement to terrestrial networks for customers needing broadband or communications coverage beyond fixed fibre and copper routes.

• Business telecommunications

  Enterprise connectivity and network services

  Business services include VPNs, international private leased circuits, metro backhaul, wholesale voice and IP capacity, network transport, security and other managed connectivity products for carriers, enterprises, internet providers and content companies.

• ICT infrastructure

  Cloud, hosting and data-centre services

  TelOne's enterprise technology portfolio includes data-centre and hosting services, cloud services, rack-space rental, backup as a service and disaster-recovery solutions. These offerings extend the company beyond access connectivity into managed ICT infrastructure.

• ICT education · 1950

  TelOne Centre for Learning

  The TelOne Centre for Learning provides ICT certificates, diplomas, short courses and distance-learning options. It has offered blended instruction, ICDL-related training and telecommunications-engineering education developed with the National University of Science and Technology.

• 2017

  Invest in National Broadband infrastructureStrategy

  Background

  TelOne sought to expand broadband capacity and modernise the national communications network beyond its traditional fixed-line base.

  Action taken

  The company began a reported US$98 million National Broadband project focused on fibre-infrastructure expansion.

  Aftermath

  The programme strengthened TelOne's positioning as both a retail internet provider and a wholesale infrastructure and backhaul operator.

  Reported project investment. US$98 million project (Beginning in 2017)

  Source

• 2016

  Use external debt collectors to recover arrearsStrategy

  Background

  TelOne faced substantial unpaid customer accounts in a difficult economic environment, including significant arrears attributed to government.

  Action taken

  The company engaged several debt collectors to pursue approximately US$165 million in outstanding bills.

  Aftermath

  The reported recovery reached approximately US$100 million, although the available reference does not provide a fuller assessment of the programme's long-term effect.

  Reported customer debt targeted and amount recovered. Approximately US$165 million in outstanding bills → Approximately US$100 million reportedly recovered (2016)

  Source

• 1987

  Separate PTC into specialised communications businessesStrategy

  Background

  Zimbabwe's telecommunications legislation sought to commercialise and separate the postal, fixed-line and mobile activities previously held within PTC.

  Action taken

  The fixed-network business was organised as TelOne, while mobile and postal activities were assigned to NetOne and ZimPost respectively, with the operational separation completed around 2000.

  Aftermath

  TelOne became the national fixed-line operator and developed a distinct role in retail voice, broadband, wholesale connectivity and telecommunications infrastructure.

  Source

• 2017

  TelOne began the National Broadband project[1]TelOne Zimbabween.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  TelOne launched a reported US$98 million National Broadband project to expand its fibre infrastructure and strengthen national broadband capacity.

• 2017

  TelOne received Zimbabwean ICT and service awards[1]TelOne Zimbabween.wikipedia.org

  Other

  TelOne was associated with recognition including Zimbabwean ICT Investor of the Year, a Contact Centre Association service-excellence award and a Zimbabwe Digital Awards internet-service-provider award.

• 2016

  TelOne pursued customer debt recovery[1]TelOne Zimbabween.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company engaged debt collectors to recover approximately US$165 million in unpaid customer bills, including about US$40 million attributed to government accounts. The reported effort recovered around US$100 million in difficult economic conditions.

1. 1TelOne Zimbabween.wikipedia.org
2. 2TelOne launches vehicle tracking system - Zimbabwe Situationzimbabwesituation.com
3. 3TelOne Zimbabwe Partners with Tejas to Expand Network Footprint - IT News Africa - African Business Technology Newsitnewsafrica.com