Zim: Mobile market share battle intensifies

Telecel Zimbabwe, for too long the smallest operator, is taking a jab at Econet, promising clients that it was now moving “forward with confidence and renewed hope for the future” in an advert titled “Do you remember?” Telecel, contrasts itself in the ad with Econet, which suspended roaming and switched contract customers to the prepaid platform at the height of Zimbabwe's economic crisis.

NetOne, the state-owned operator, is showing off as “the country's number one”, and “making a splash with prices that are diving even lower for you”. It says its tariffs make it “the most economical network for our contract and (pre-paid) customers”.

But Econet, whose subscriber base has crossed a million and is looking at a massive rump up that could see it at two million, is celebrating by thanking its customers “a million times” with a multi-million dollar competition for subscribers.

With brand awareness that didn't subside with the economic crisis, it will take significant resources for Telecel and NetOne to topple Econet as the market leader.