NetOne, the mobile branch of Zimbabwean incumbent telecom operator TelOne, has selected Chinese technology company Huawei to carry out the modernization of its telecom network. The operation, which is part of the strategic cooperation between the two countries, is financed up to $400,000 by China.

This is phase 2 of NetOne's network modernization operation, which aims to improve broadband access throughout the country. ‘The successful implementation of this project will drive the development of related industries, improve Zimbabwe’s digitalization and modernization, and provide an efficient and convenient service platform for investors,” said Huawei executive Jiang Jiaqi

The financial and technological support that Huawei will provide to NetOne reflects a calming of the once tense relations between China and Zimbabwe over NetOne. In October, China indefinitely suspended funding for the operator's $71 million expansion project after the Zimbabwean government seized the investment capital, deposited it in an escrow account, to obtain foreign exchange.

NetOne's network upgrade will help provide more Zimbabweans with broadband access, which is critical to the digital transformation that the government is determined to accelerate this year. Zimbabwe wants to improve its weak digital readiness.

Muriel Edjo