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(TALKZIMBABWE) Internet woes continue in Zimbabwe

Internet woes continue in Zimbabwe
Posted by By Professor Tshuma at 29 March, at 14 : 04 PM

INTERNET users in Zimbabwe and other countries continue to experience slow and intermittent services six weeks after two separate accidents that involved ships which in turn affected the crucial internet and phone link for the region.

A survey by this news crew in the Central Business District of Harare has shown that the reports that internet speeds were frustratingly slow over the stipulated time have made it a worrisome thing as most of the interviewed people said they use internet cafes mostly and their money is used up after ‘downloading’ very few if any documents.

“We have been wondering what is happening because I used to go to an internet café for any business that needed internet and for every hour that I used to pay, I would download at least three proposals, but now I can hardly download one due to the speed of the internet,” said one user.

He said this has slowed down his business as well as profits he made as he is now forking out more than he used to before the problem occurred.

The expression on his face (the interviewee) showed that he was not aware what was causing the slow connection and speed of internet.

The manager at Communication Centre Internet Café in Harare, Mr. Raymond Dafi said the problem has also reduced the number of clients that come to have their services, adding that the situation should be rectified in the earliest time possible to allow business to move on as the country now can hardly do without information communication technologies.

On Tuesday the service appeared to be improving.

One of the Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) Powertel had to issue a statement explaining that the problem was beyond their control.

In February a ship dragging its anchor off the coast of the Kenyan port city of Mombasa severed an undersea cable that cut off some nine African countries, including Zimbabwe. Engineers warned the repairs could take up to a month.

Another cable severed in two is known as EASSy and is owned by the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC).

The WIOCC is jointly owned by 14 major telecom operators in Africa, including Zimbabwe’s TelOne. Experts say Zimbabwe was hardest hit by the accident which cut the cable.

Last month Information and Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa also told us his ministry was inundated with complaints about poor internet speeds.

On Tuesday Muchemwa said mobile phone networks were also having problems with crossed lines and people were struggling to top up their airtime.

Labels: INTERNET

posted by MrK @ 9:10 AM