Paratus Zimbabwe, a subsidiary of Paratus Group, a company that provides ICT network solutions, fibre and satellite connectivity that cross-link Africa and the world, has signed a major deal with PowerTel Communications, the ICT arm of Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) to launch a new high-capacity national fibre network across Zimbabwe.
Together the partners say they will combine strengths and invest equally in the rollout of high-capacity fibre infrastructure to create a new long-distance fibre network across Zimbabwe and provide cross-border links to Zimbabwe’s neighbouring countries. The first phase of the rollout, within the next six months, will connect Plumtree and Bulawayo, towns in the the west, and Livingstone, a Zambian city near the border with Zimbabwe.
Acting MD of PowerTel Communications Willard Nyagwande says: “This marks a major step forward in Zimbabwe’s digital transformation because this partnership will allow us to deliver on our mission to provide high-capacity and affordable connectivity to the people and enterprises of Zimbabwe.”
Paratus Group chief commercial officer Martin Cox adds: “By extending our footprint into yet another African territory, we will bridge gaps between neighbouring countries and further strengthen and widen our contiguous network offering.”
Paratus Zimbabwe was awarded a communications licence in Zimbabwe earlier this year. Paratus operates in 15 African countries, but its footprint extends beyond Africa to international points of presence in Europe, the UK and the US.
