HARARE — Econet Wireless Zimbabwe plans to switch off its 3G network by the end of December 2027, marking a major step in the country’s transition towards higher-capacity 4G and 5G mobile networks.
The move, reported by NewZwire, forms part of Econet’s broader network modernisation programme, with the telecommunications operator reallocating spectrum and infrastructure from legacy technologies to faster mobile networks.
Econet chief executive Douglas Mboweni said only a small proportion of customers remain on 3G, with most subscribers having already migrated to 4G and 5G services.
The company plans to retain 2G for longer, particularly in rural areas where basic feature phones remain widely used. Econet said it would first strengthen network coverage before supporting rural customers in migrating to 4G as the minimum connectivity standard.
Spectrum becomes a strategic asset
The retirement of 3G and, eventually, 2G will allow Econet to redeploy spectrum towards higher-capacity networks, potentially improving data speeds and network efficiency.
NewZwire reported that Econet has already ordered much of the equipment required for the upgrade and is expanding its 4G and 5G infrastructure. The company is also developing an independent power system to improve network resilience amid Zimbabwe’s electricity supply challenges.
Mboweni said the wider network modernisation programme would require annual investment running into hundreds of millions of US dollars, highlighting the capital intensity of telecommunications infrastructure.
Market analysts who spoke to The Zimbabwe Financial Mail said the transition represents more than a technology upgrade, arguing that the economic value lies in the increased productivity and capacity that a modern mobile network can support.
“The migration from 3G to 4G and 5G is essentially a capital-reallocation exercise. Spectrum is a scarce asset, and operators can generate greater economic value from it when it is deployed towards technologies capable of carrying significantly more data,” one analyst said.
Another analyst said the investment cycle could have wider implications for Zimbabwe’s digital economy, particularly as businesses increasingly depend on mobile payments, cloud services, e-commerce and digital platforms.
“For Zimbabwe, better connectivity is increasingly part of the productive infrastructure of the economy. The question is not simply whether consumers can access faster internet, but whether businesses can use that connectivity to increase productivity, reduce transaction costs and develop new services,” the analyst told The Zimbabwe Financial Mail.
Rural migration remains the challenge
While urban customers have largely moved towards newer technologies, the continued use of 2G in rural areas highlights the affordability challenge surrounding the transition.
Econet said it intends to support rural customers with affordable handsets and flexible payment arrangements as it moves towards 4G becoming the minimum standard.
Analysts said the success of the programme would therefore depend not only on network investment but also on handset affordability, electricity availability and the ability of lower-income consumers to access modern devices.
Econet is also targeting so-called “grey” handsets that do not meet their advertised technical specifications and can cause connectivity problems. The company has developed a system to identify such devices when they connect to its network.
The shift is consistent with a broader international move away from legacy mobile technologies. NewZwire noted that Rwanda has set June 2027 for its nationwide 3G shutdown, while South Africa has targeted December 2027. European markets, including Germany and the Czech Republic, completed their 3G transitions earlier.
For Zimbabwe, the significance extends beyond telecommunications. Analysts said the modernisation of mobile infrastructure could become an important enabler of digital financial services, enterprise technology and AI adoption, provided investment in connectivity is matched by improvements in power supply and digital infrastructure.
“The long-term economic return will come from what sits on top of the network — financial services, commerce, enterprise applications and increasingly AI-enabled services. That is where telecommunications infrastructure becomes an economic productivity asset rather than simply a consumer service,” another market analyst said.
