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*By Ross Moyo*
NetOne has positioned itself at the core of Zimbabwe’s Fourth Industrial Revolution, declaring that intelligent connectivity is the foundation for the country’s AI-driven digital economy and Vision 2030 targets.
“AI cannot stand alone. Its true power is unlocked only through robust, intelligent connectivity. Without networks, there is no digital economy,” the NetOne Group Chief Executive Officer said at the Evolve ICT Summit 2026 in Harare, addressing delegates at an event graced by the Hon. Minister of ICT Hon. T. Mavetera, Permanent Secretary Dr. B. Chirume, and industry leaders.
The GCEO told delegates that history shows every great leap in human progress is built on infrastructure: roads, railways, electricity, the internet. Today, he argued, AI is that next great leap, but it depends entirely on networks that can learn, adapt and anticipate.
NetOne’s mandate is clear: build the digital foundations for Zimbabwe’s future economy. The operator said it is enabling innovation, empowering enterprise, connecting communities, and driving inclusive growth in line with Vision 2030 and NDS2 “Leaving No One and No Place Behind”.
The launch of Zimbabwe’s National AI Policy early this year was a watershed moment, the GCEO noted. “NetOne fully embraces this vision. Through sustained investment in intelligent networks, we are positioning Zimbabwe not as a spectator, but as a contributor in the global AI revolution.”
The real question, he told Captains of Industry, is not whether AI will transform telecoms — it already is. The question is how operators harness AI to deliver greater value to customers, communities, businesses, and the nation.
At NetOne, the shift is from reactive to predictive operations. AI enables the operator to anticipate congestion, identify faults before they affect customers, and optimise performance in real time across vast geographies. “We are building intelligent, adaptive, future-ready networks,” the GCEO said.
AI is also revolutionising customer experience. NetOne is deploying it to deliver personalised, seamless, and responsive services. In an era of rising cyber threats, AI strengthens cybersecurity by detecting anomalies and safeguarding critical infrastructure.
But technology must improve lives, not widen gaps. “AI must not widen the digital divide — it must bridge it,” the GCEO emphasized. For Zimbabwe, AI offers a unique opportunity to expand access to essential services and create opportunities for underserved communities.
“The future of telecoms will not be defined by faster networks alone. It will be defined by smarter networks — networks that learn, adapt, anticipate, and empower,” he concluded. NetOne pledged to keep powering connectivity, innovation, inclusion and Zimbabwe’s digital future.
NetOne also declared that its mission goes beyond faster speeds, pledging to build smarter networks that connect Zimbabweans to opportunity, knowledge and growth as the country implements its National AI Policy.
“We are not merely connecting devices. We are connecting people to opportunity. Communities to knowledge. Businesses to growth. Zimbabwe to the future,” the NetOne Group Chief Executive Officer told delegates at Evolve ICT Summit 2026.
The GCEO framed telecoms operators as central to Africa’s digital leap.
He argued that AI is the most transformative force of our time, reshaping telecommunications and digital economies across the continent. But its potential is only realised through intelligent infrastructure that can handle complex workloads and protect users.
NetOne fully embraces government’s AI vision, the GCEO said. Through sustained investment in intelligent networks, the operator is positioning Zimbabwe as a contributor, not a spectator, in the global AI revolution aligned with NDS2.
The operator is shifting operations from reactive to predictive. AI allows NetOne to anticipate network congestion, detect faults before service impact, and optimise performance across urban and rural areas. The goal is reliability that businesses and communities can trust.
Customer experience is also being redefined. AI enables personalised services that respond to individual needs. On security, AI tools detect anomalies and protect critical infrastructure at a time when cyber threats are rising across Africa.
Crucially, NetOne said AI must bridge, not widen, the digital divide. “For Zimbabwe, AI offers a unique opportunity to expand access to essential services and create opportunities for underserved communities,” the GCEO noted, linking the strategy to inclusion.
The future of telecoms, he said, will be defined by smarter networks — networks that learn, adapt, anticipate, and empower. NetOne is committed to ensuring digital transformation reaches every corner of the nation.
He closed with a call to action for innovation and inclusion: “Let us build a digital future that is innovative, inclusive, secure, and beneficial to all. Powering Connectivity. Powering Innovation. Powering Inclusion. Powering Zimbabwe’s Digital Future.”
Compulink and Evolve Africa CEOs Edward Nyamuda and Simon Nyamuda, were also present.
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