Netone continue to set the tone in the telecommunications industry and is a shining light to the development of the Information, Communication and Technologies in the rural areas a senior government official has said.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Portal and Courier Services, Supa Mandiwanzira said the telecommunications company is committed to network service provision in the country as evidenced by its growing number of base stations in the country.
Minister Mandiwanzira made these remarks while officially opening Netone’s base station in Mutoko under the “Igniting Mbiri yedu trail” theme.
Minister Mandiwanzira said” I understand Netone is rolling out base stations, many of them enabled with the latest 4-G technology.
“Their ambitious program is encompassing rural areas like Mutoko where we are gathered to witness the official opening of this significant investment.”
He added that school children need internet, being provided by Netone, for research while traders use it to follow market trends. He revealed that gone are the days of the brick and mortar banking systems as people can now turn to mobile money platforms like One Wallet which Netone offers as well.
He said the telecommunications company meets with distinction, the government’s developmental agenda as it continues to push for development of marginalized areas like the rural Mutoko.
Minister Mandiwanzira said the Netone Mbiri Yedu Trail was a beautiful story which must be emulated by all network service providers.
He said “Netone began their journey with only 500 subscribers and became the county’s first mobile telecommunications company. Their journey has been a marvel to us.
“Today, that subscriber base has ballooned to nearly 5million showing an increase of almost 10 thousand percent.
The former broadcaster said, POTRAZ released results which indicated that Netone is the only network service provider which recorded profits in the first quarter of the year.
Netone is celebrating 20 years of telecommunications service provision to the country having cut its teeth in the industry in 1996. As part of its 20th year celebrations, Netone launched the Igniting Mbiri Yedu Trail campaign which will see 11 base stations being erected across the country.
