Power cuts hit mobile operators
Saturday, 21 July 2012 19:00
BY MOSES CHIBAYA
MOBILE operators say the use of generators to run base stations during power
cuts had increased operational costs, affecting their profit margins.
The country is experiencing debilitating power cuts as demand has
outstripped the generation capacity. The power utility is generating 1 100MW
against the required 2 200MW.
Giving oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media,
Information and Communication Technology last week, Econet CEO, Douglas
Mboweni, said the US$0,20c per minute tariff offered was arrived at after
factoring in all the costs involved. Mboweni said the major cost that was
driving their tariff up was fuel, used to run generators.
“Electricity is a huge cost to us, the cost of generators and the cost of
refilling is estimated at over US$15 million per year,” Mboweni said.
The Econet boss said about 72% of the network at any given time would be
running on generators.
In a separate presentation interview before the same committee, Telecel
chief executive officer, Francis Mawindi, concurred with Mboweni and also
bemoaned electricity woes as the major barrier.