By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
HARARE – Zimbabweans are abandoning traditional voice calls in droves, opting instead for data-driven communication platforms like WhatsApp, Zoom and Facebook Messenger, according to the latest sector performance report from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ).
The first quarter of 2026 painted a stark picture of a sector in rapid transformation, with mobile data traffic surging by 11.85% while traditional mobile voice traffic plummeted by 8.38%, the report reveals.
The figures represent the clearest evidence yet that the country’s telecommunications landscape is undergoing a fundamental structural shift.
Mobile Internet/data traffic jumped from 160.33 Petabytes to 179.33 Petabytes in the quarter under review, while fixed Internet/data traffic recorded an even more dramatic 29.39% growth, soaring from 479.94 Petabytes to 621 Petabytes.
Meanwhile, mobile voice traffic contracted from 5.07 billion minutes to 4.64 billion minutes, with the POTRAZ report attributing the decline to “the gradual shift from traditional voice calls to Over-the-Top (OTT) data-driven applications that offer both voice and video functionalities via flexible Internet bundles at a lower cost.”
The trend was not limited to voice calls. SMS traffic also declined by 8.89%, dropping from 2.77 billion messages to 2.52 billion in the first quarter of 2026.
Dr Gift Machengete, the POTRAZ Director General, presented the figures in the authority’s 1st Quarter Sector Performance Report, noting that the changes reflect “the cyclical nature of consumer behaviour during and after the festive season, as well as the gradual shift” away from traditional communication methods.
The data tells a compelling story of consumer choice. With mobile penetration now standing at 108.53% and broadband penetration hitting 85.83%, Zimbabweans are increasingly armed with the devices and connectivity needed to access data-rich services.
The total number of active Internet/data subscriptions increased by 5% to 13.9 million, while active mobile subscriptions grew by 2.99% to 17.28 million.
For mobile network operators, the shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While traditional revenue streams from voice and SMS are under pressure, the explosive growth in data usage opens new avenues for monetisation.
The number of active fixed telephone subscriptions also increased by 6.58% from 304,383 to 324,425, though fixed tele-density remains low at just 2.04%, highlighting the dominance of mobile networks in Zimbabwe’s communications landscape.
The decline in traditional voice traffic was attributed to a simultaneous drop in both net-on-net and cross-network interconnect traffic, suggesting that consumers are not simply switching networks but fundamentally changing how they communicate.
Industry analysts have long predicted the convergence of voice and data services, and the POTRAZ report suggests that tipping point has now been reached in Zimbabwe.
OTT applications, which bypass traditional telecommunications infrastructure, are becoming the default mode of communication for millions of Zimbabweans.
The trend is not unique to Zimbabwe but mirrors global patterns where younger demographics in particular are showing a marked preference for data-based communication.
However, the speed and scale of the shift in Zimbabwe—with data traffic growing at double-digit rates while voice declines—indicates a rapid acceleration of digital adoption.
The report also noted that the decline in voice traffic was partially attributable to the “cyclical nature of consumer behaviour during and after the festive season,” suggesting that the fourth quarter of 2025 may have seen elevated voice usage during holiday periods.
However, the sustained growth in data traffic points to a longer-term structural trend rather than a seasonal fluctuation.
As Zimbabwe’s telecommunications sector continues its data-driven transformation, the implications extend beyond the industry itself.
Businesses, government services, and social interactions are increasingly moving online, demanding robust, affordable and reliable Internet connectivity.
The POTRAZ report makes clear that the days of the traditional voice call as the primary means of communication in Zimbabwe are numbered. The digital revolution is here—and it is being driven by data.
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