Swedish telecom giant Ericsson is exploring ways to harness 5G technology to enhance efficiency and productivity in Zimbabwe’s mining industry. The company, valued at $27.62 billion, has been active in Zimbabwe since 1997, supporting local telecom providers in upgrading their networks.
Ericsson’s Vice President for Middle East & Africa, Todd Ashton, confirmed the company’s interest in integrating 5G into Zimbabwe’s mining operations. He highlighted how the technology could support automation, real-time data analytics, and remote monitoring, aligning with the country’s 2030 development goals.
Ericsson is working with Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, which has already expanded its 5G network, deploying additional base stations across the country. However, Ashton noted that Zimbabwe’s challenging economic environment and limited access to foreign currency have made network investments difficult.
To ease financial constraints, Ericsson is leveraging Sweden’s export credit agency, EKN, to offer flexible payment solutions to Zimbabwean telecom firms. Ashton also called for more affordable spectrum licences, emphasising that reasonable pricing would encourage investment in mobile infrastructure.
The mining industry, which contributes over 60% of Zimbabwe’s export earnings, stands to benefit significantly from private 5G networks. These networks enable seamless connectivity, support semi-autonomous machinery, and enhance safety and operational efficiency.
Despite Zimbabwe’s high mobile penetration rate of over 90%, the cost of spectrum allocation and infrastructure development remains a major challenge to widespread 5G adoption. Ericsson remains optimistic about the market’s potential, seeing growth opportunities in rural connectivity, home broadband, and industry-specific applications.
