Africom obtains first data network licence
Africom, one of the country’s leading information communications
network providers, has become the first privately owned company
to obtain a public data network licence from the Posts and
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ).
The granting of this licence marks the beginning of a new
era for Africom, its customers and the electronic transmission
of data in Zimbabwe.
Africom, which was established in 1995, at that time as Kingcomms,
has for a long time wanted to become a provider of telecommunications
services in Zimbabwe and elsewhere in Africa.
However, it is only recently, with the ending of the Posts
and Telecommunications Corporation’s monopoly and the
deregulation of the telecommunications sector that it has
become possible for private companies to obtain a licence
to provide telecommunications facilities.
Hitherto Africom has been limited to providing private information
technology networks. Now, for the first time, it can establish
a public network.
Africom has established a name for itself as a top provider
of information technology network solutions.
In 1997 it installed its first radio-based solution. Until
recently it held the world record for the installation of
the longest wireless-bridged network, linking Harare and Murehwa.
However, while it pioneered the use of radio linkages, it
has been limited hitherto to using frequencies in the Industrial,
Scientific and Medical (ISM) band, which does not require
a licence.
Now that it has become licensed to operate a public data
network, utilizing cable networks and licensed broadband radio
frequencies, it plans to establish what will eventually become
a nation-wide network.
Its network will have the capacity to provide e-mail and
Internet access and data transmission platforms for organisations
wanting to exploit business tools such as Enterprise Resource
Planning to share resources and information.
Africom is committed to providing the high-speed connection
to the Internet that will become an essential business tool
within the next few years.
While data communication is currently Africom’s focus,
the company’s vision is to eventually become a total
communications solution provider and take advantage of the
merging technologies that allow for the transmission of voice,
video and data over the same medium.
Africom plans to roll out its data network in five phases,
beginning with the major centers of Harare, Chitungwiza and
Bulawayo. It expects to have established its network in these
areas within six months.
The second phase will see the network expanded six months
later to take in Masvingo, Mutare and Gweru. Six months after
that it will be expanded to take in Kwekwe and 19 towns around
the country, including Victoria Falls, Hwange, Kariba, Bindura,
Rusape, Chinhoyi, Marondera, Zvishavane, Plumtree and Beitbridge.
In four years time another 20 centers will, it is planned,
be added to the network. In about eight years time, the Africom
network should extend throughout the country, making it a
truly national telecommunications operator.
Africom has developed a culture of service to the community.
Earlier this year, for instance, it introduced a free e-mail
service. Later in the year it introduced its Afri-Express
service designed to assist small businesses.
Providing a reliable national public data network service
to facilitate the exchange of data through a network system
that allows reliable high-speed connection is yet another
project meant to benefit Zimbabwean society.
To provide international data services, Africom plans to
establish communications circuits to other countries within
the region and around the world.
During the first phase of rolling out its network, Africom
intends installing a universal access gateway to other networks
both within Zimbabwe and outside it.
The convergence of information technology and communications
presents businesses with exciting opportunities to add value
to their organisations. Africom sees itself as playing an
active role in facilitating this.
Africom’s vision extends beyond its operations in Zimbabwe.
It sees itself as ultimately becoming an important data network
provider throughout the continent of Africa.
The company has set itself high service quality targets.
It envisages fewer than 10 faults per 100 clients per year
and anticipates rectifying 90 percent or more of these faults
within 24 hours.
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