The Sunday Mail
Consumers have challenged the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe to rein in mobile network service providers, who are charging tariffs that are 30 percent higher than they should.
This follows completion of a cost-modeling study to determine what people should be paying for mobile services.
The study by a German consultant shows that mobile network operators should be charging between 16,1 US cents and 17,5 USc per minute, instead of the 23-25 USc they are billing.
Customers fear Portraz is treating operators with kid gloves because it said it was too early to start discussing figures and that the regulator was waiting for the firms to submit plans on how they intend to implement new tariffs.
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe executive director Ms Rosemary Siyachitema said: “We were involved in all the consultation stages (of the cost-modeling exercise) and as consumers we feel that tariffs definitely have to be reduced.
“In regard of other previous issues like the fights between service providers, spam messages and unregistered lines, Potraz should be more assertive than they have been. They should protect consumers from such things because consumers are already burdened with a lot of things.”
Danai Mugomba (27), who has both Econet and Telecel lines, said it appeared Portraz feared confronting operators head-on.
“It is a good thing that they (Potraz) have finally woken up to smell the coffee, but identifying a problem and solving it are two different things,” she said.
“When Potraz say they are now waiting for operators to make plans to reduce tariffs, then you know that they are not in control.
“Potraz should be telling service providers what they are required to do, not operators telling Potraz what they are willing to do. This is their chance to show their mettle.”
Potraz has in the past been accused of failing to regulate the sector, largely standing by as price wars raged between operators, spam messages were sent out in bulk, and syndicates dumped SIM cards on the market.
In April 2014, Potraz issued a notice to service providers advising them that spam was not acceptable. However, such messages continue to flood subcribers’ inboxes.
The notice said Potraz was mandated by Section 4 of the Postal and Telecommunications Act (Chapter 12:05) of 2000 to require operators to adhere to principles that respect privacy.
One of the principles is that operators should “not send or cause to be sent commercial communication to subscribers unless the subscriber has subscribed to the service by sending an SMS or in writing”.
However, more than a year later, Econet and Telecel in particular continue to send significant spam and promotional messages.
Potraz only launched a probe into the issue two weeks ago.
“We know that they are good at talking about following channels and engaging subscribers and all that, but when a matter is talked about for so long without action, then as consumers we will feel someone is not doing their job,” said disgruntled consumer Mandianike.
“The issue of spam messages should have been dealt with a long time ago.”
Potraz is also accused of failing to tame illegal trading of mobile phone lines.
Underhand trading of already activated lines at inflated prices is now common in Zimbabwe with syndicates’ even flighting adverts in local newspapers to lure buyers.
ICT expert Mr Canisios Muranganwa urged Potraz to show more leadership, but also pointed out that the regulator had done much good as well.
“Potraz have really been doing a good job in terms of identifying problems in the telecoms sector, however, it is the way they have been responding to issues that has been letting them and the consumers down,” he said.
“If you look at the issue of price wars between operators as well as the issue of spam messages, one can be forgiven to concede that Potraz is being arm-twisted by these service providers.
“They may not have acted to the satisfaction of consumers on some issues, but that does not disqualify a number of good things they have done, for instance, being able to identify that the tariffs are high is a good thing on its own.”
Potraz public relations officer Ms Sibongile Muteyiwa requested written questions, but these had not been responded to by the time of going to print.
