Powertel Communications has taken a major step towards becoming a leading Internet Service Provider (ISP) after the first phase of its landmark cross-border fibre partnership with Paratus Zimbabwe went live.
The project has activated a new high-capacity digital corridor linking Zimbabwe with Botswana, Zambia and South Africa through the wider Paratus network across Southern Africa.
Under the partnership, Powertel, a Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF) company, contributed its extensive national fibre backbone, while Paratus, a leading pan-African telecommunications and network services provider, brought its continental network, technical expertise and experience in developing resilient telecommunications infrastructure across Africa.
The first operational section, running between Plumtree and Bulawayo, is now carrying live traffic, marking the first Paratus-connected fibre route into Zimbabwe.
The route is expected to strengthen regional integration by linking Zimbabwe to Africa’s high-capacity digital network while enhancing cross-border connectivity for businesses and service providers.
Powertel Communications managing director Willard Nyagwande described the milestone as the product of a strong strategic partnership aimed at transforming Zimbabwe’s digital infrastructure.
“This is a defining moment for Powertel as the project is planned, built, owned and operated by Powertel, as the licensed national carrier under POTRAZ and the telecommunications arm of ZESA. The IRU with our partner Paratus is the commercial vehicle that this project’s success rides on; that allows us to lead this corridor with the financial backing of a renowned and reputable continental partner, while retaining the operational primacy over the asset, the regulator-facing relationship and accountability to ZESA and the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
Nyagwande said the Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) model had transformed a national infrastructure ambition into a commercially viable investment capable of supporting future expansion.
“The IRU converts a national infrastructure ambition into a bankable, investable, replicable commercial reality. It aligns the incentives of both parties over the full economic life of the asset.
“That is precisely why this model is significant. It is the structure that has made the Plumtree-Victoria Falls corridor financeable today, and it is the same structure that will carry the Bulawayo-Livingstone, and the wider Botswana-Zimbabwe-Zambia digital spine, tomorrow.”
Mutapa Investment Fund Head of Energy and Investment Cluster Tinashe Yafele described the project as a game-changer for Powertel and Zimbabwe’s digital transformation agenda.
“With an equipped capacity of 800Gbps, this project stands as a significant landmark in Zimbabwe’s digital transformation journey. This project is more than just the deployment of fibre-optic infrastructure. It represents a strategic investment in Zimbabwe’s digital economy, regional integration and long-term economic development,” he said.
Paratus Group Chief Commercial Officer Martin Cox said the live deployment marked a significant milestone in delivering the company’s vision of a connected regional digital corridor.
“When we announced the PPP and this project last year, we set out a clear vision to create the first high-capacity digital corridor linking Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Today, we are delighted that the first phase is live, carrying traffic and already delivering real, measurable progress towards that vision.
“This is about far more than fibre infrastructure. It is about building the digital foundations that enable economic growth, regional integration and improved access to world-class connectivity. By integrating Zimbabwe into the Paratus network – Africa’s quality network – we are extending the reach of our contiguous network from South Africa through Botswana and Zimbabwe into Zambia, creating resilient connectivity for businesses, service providers and communities across the region.”
The newly operational route uses state-of-the-art Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology capable of delivering more than 10 terabits per second, with the first phase already operating at an initial equipped capacity of 800Gbps.
The infrastructure provides significant bandwidth for current demand while offering scalability to meet future regional connectivity requirements.
The second phase of the project, connecting Bulawayo and Livingstone, is scheduled to go live in September 2026, completing the strategic three-country digital corridor linking Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
