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Internet and data services have emerged as the largest revenue stream for Zimbabwe’s mobile network operators (MNOs), contributing 47.97% of total earnings in the second quarter of 2025, according to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) in its latest Abridged Sector Performance Report.
The report attributes this surge to the growing consumption of bandwidth-intensive platforms such as Netflix, YouTube, TikTok and other streaming or social applications, which continue to shape user behavior across the country.
Alongside this revenue growth, MNOs also registered a notable improvement in their operational efficiency. The cost-to-income ratio dropped by 7.98 percentage points, falling from 59.84% in the first quarter to 51.86% in the second quarter of 2025. This shift signals that operators are now generating more income relative to their expenditure, a trend POTRAZ described as “improved operating efficiency.”
The performance figures highlight a sector that is increasingly dependent on internet services, reflecting broader global trends where voice revenues are in decline while data-driven services dominate. For Zimbabwe, this underscores the importance of continuous investment in network infrastructure, spectrum, and innovative digital services to sustain momentum.
As data demand intensifies, the report suggests that operators who leverage cost efficiencies while expanding affordable, high-speed connectivity will remain competitive. Ultimately, the findings point to a sector that is not only growing but also restructuring itself around the realities of a digital-first economy.
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