Powertel, Paratus launch Fiber Optic Corridor

Powertel Communications and Paratus Zimbabwe have officially launched the first phase of a major cross-border fiber optic project, marking a significant leap forward in Southern Africa’s digital infrastructure.

The newly operational route, now carrying live traffic, creates a high-capacity digital corridor linking Zimbabwe with Botswana, Zambia, South Africa, and the wider Paratus network spanning the continent.

This milestone is the first major achievement under a public-private partnership agreement signed in June 2025 between the two companies. The partnership was designed to jointly invest in and develop extensive long-distance fiber infrastructure across Zimbabwe, with both parties contributing equally. Powertel brings its national fiber backbone to the project, while Paratus contributes its continental network reach, cutting-edge technology, technical expertise, and experience building resilient telecommunications infrastructure across Africa.

The first active Paratus-connected fiber segment runs from Plumtree to Bulawayo, marking a critical step toward deeper regional integration. This development goes beyond adding another fiber route; it integrates Zimbabwe into Africa’s premier network ecosystem, enhancing cross-border connectivity, advancing digital inclusion, and supporting sustained economic growth throughout the region.

The new route employs advanced Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology; the latest in fiber optic transmission systems; delivering capacity exceeding 10 terabits per second. The initial phase is operational with 800 gigabits of traffic capacity. Beyond immediate bandwidth gains, the infrastructure is designed to scale, accommodating future connectivity demands as the region’s digital needs grow.

The second phase, which will connect Bulawayo to Livingstone, is slated for activation in September 2026, completing a strategic cross-border corridor linking Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana.

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), the national regulator, said the project aligns with Zimbabwe’s National Broadband Plan and the broader Southern African Development Community’s infrastructure goals. POTRAZ has long called for increased investment in cross-border connectivity to reduce data costs and improve service quality across the region.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations agency for information and communication technologies, has identified cross-border fiber infrastructure as essential to achieving universal, affordable connectivity in Africa. The ITU’s 2025 Global Connectivity Report highlights public-private partnerships as vital to bridging the digital divide, especially in landlocked countries reliant on neighbors for international bandwidth.

Research from the Africa Telecommunications Union (ATU) shows that every 10% increase in cross-border fiber connectivity correlates with roughly 1.2% GDP growth in participating countries, underscoring the economic impact of such investments. The ATU also notes that countries with multiple international connectivity options enjoy 40% lower wholesale bandwidth costs compared to those dependent on a single route.

Willard Nyagwande, managing director of Powertel Communications, emphasized the project’s significance and the innovative partnership model behind it. “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, whilst retaining operational primacy over the asset, the regulator-facing relationship, and accountability to ZESA and the people of Zimbabwe. This 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,” he said.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, has identified the Zimbabwe-Botswana-Zambia corridor as a priority infrastructure investment. The IFC notes that enhanced digital connectivity could substantially improve trade facilitation, financial inclusion, and service delivery throughout the region. Their research suggests that better broadband in landlocked countries can cut logistics costs by up to 15% through improved supply chain visibility and coordination.

Industry analysts see this project as a model for sustainable infrastructure development in African telecommunications, where national assets are leveraged through commercial partnerships to meet development goals while retaining public ownership of critical infrastructure. The Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) arrangement represents an innovative financing mechanism that eases fiscal pressure on public entities by tapping private sector technical and financial resources.

With the completion of this first phase, Zimbabwe emerges as a burgeoning digital hub in Southern Africa, poised to attract investment from technology firms, cloud service providers, and content delivery networks seeking reliable, high-capacity connectivity to serve the region’s growing digital economy.