Paratus, an African fiber and satellite connectivity operator, through its Paratus Zimbabwe subsidiary and partner Powertel Communications, has lit the first phase of a high-capacity fiber-optic network that will connect Zimbabwe to Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa.
The network is the product of a public-private partnership (PPP) signed in June 2025 by both Powertel and Paratus. The first phase of the network runs between Plumtree and Bulawayo and leverages dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technology capable of scaling to more than 10 Tbps.
This first phase of the project has a capacity of 800 Gbps according to a press release issued by Paratus Zimbabwe. This is sufficient capacity for the time being, with the network able to scale as demand and connectivity requirements grow.
“When we announced the PPP and this project last year, we set out a clear vision to create the first high-capacity digital corridor linking Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Today, we are delighted that the first phase is live, carrying traffic and already delivering real, measurable progress towards that vision,” said Martin Cox, Chief Commercial Officer, Paratus Group.
“This is just the first of many routes that Paratus plans to develop as we continue expanding Africa’s quality network,” Cox added.
“The project directly supports the aspirations of Vision 2030, the National Development Strategy and Zimbabwe’s Digital Economy Strategy by strengthening the digital infrastructure required for modern commerce, education, healthcare, e-government, financial services and industrial development. It also positions Zimbabwe as a strategic regional telecommunications gateway connecting Southern Africa,” said Tinashe Yafele, Mutapa Investment Fund’s Head of Cluster: Energy and Trading.
The next phase of the network build-out will connect Bulawayo and Livingstone, and is expected to be lit up by September 2026. Work on this second phase is well underway.
Under the arrangement, Powertel and Paratus have entered into an Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) agreement. Paratus gains access to the network, allowing it to connect to its other regions as though it owned the infrastructure, but ownership rests with Powertel.
“The IRU with our partner Paratus is the commercial vehicle that this project’s success rides on; that allows us to lead this corridor with the financial backing of a renowned and reputable continental partner, whilst retaining the operational primacy over the asset, the regulator-facing relationship, and accountability to ZESA and the people of Zimbabwe,” explained Willard Nyagwande, Managing Director, Powertel Communications.
The added capacity lands as Zimbabwe moves to expand a thin data center base. In January, the government unveiled plans, developed with Econet, for a data center and 741-acre industrial park powered by a 100 MW solar plant, designed to support energy-intensive, AI-oriented computing. A robust national backbone is vital not only for this project, but other data center projects in the pipeline.