By 
By Ross Moyo
Rural Zimbabwe will not be left offline. Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has confirmed it will switch off its 3G network by December 2027, but will keep 2G running longer to give villages and farming communities time to migrate.
The dual approach reflects the reality on the ground. While cities have largely moved to 4G and 5G, many rural areas still depend on 2G feature phones for calls and basic WhatsApp.
“We must give rural customers more time to replace their phones while supporting them with affordable handsets and flexible payment terms,” said Econet CEO Dr Douglas Mboweni.
“We will first upgrade network coverage and then help customers in rural communities migrate to 4G as the minimum standard. That work is already underway.”
The company said 3G is being retired first because very few people still use it. The technology is also too slow for today’s needs. But 2G remains critical for voice and SMS in areas with weak signal.
Econet said maintaining 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G all at once puts pressure on spectrum, which is a limited resource. By shutting 3G and later refarming 2G spectrum, the company can expand 4G and 5G capacity and improve data speeds.
To make that possible in rural areas, Econet has already ordered new equipment and is building an independent power system to keep towers running during electricity cuts. The CEO said the modernisation programme will require annual investment running into hundreds of millions of dollars.
The company is also working with suppliers to bring cheaper 4G feature phones and smartphones to the market. Flexible payment terms are being considered so that pensioners, farmers and students can afford the switch.
Dr Mboweni said the goal is not to disconnect anyone, but to lift the minimum standard.
“Our plan is to make 4G the minimum standard across the country. That means we have to walk with rural customers, not ahead of them.”
The phased approach puts Zimbabwe in line with neighbors. Rwanda will end 3G in June 2027 and South Africa in December 2027. Both countries are also keeping 2G for now for the same rural reasons.
For rural subscribers, the message is: you are not forgotten. But the future is 4G, and the migration starts now.
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