Powertel Allocates US$5.5 Million for Dual Gateway Project to South Africa
PowerTel Communications, a subsidiary of Zimbabwe’s ZESA Holdings, has invested over US$5.5 million to create a dual gateway linking Zimbabwe and South Africa, enhancing local network connectivity.
This dual gateway setup utilizes two gateways to manage network traffic, ensuring redundancy and load balancing; if one fails, the other maintains connectivity.
In an interview with NewsDay, Willard Nyagwande, Powertel’s acting managing director, emphasized that this investment is part of a broader strategy to boost operational efficiency and provide more affordable connectivity. He noted the company’s 25-year history of continuous investment in various technologies.
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Nyagwande explained that the US$5.5 million investment is aimed at improving internet access via Beitbridge, especially crucial in case other routes like Mozambique or Plumtree are down.
He mentioned that PowerTel has also invested significantly to help connect miners, such as Dinson Iron and Steel Company and Bikita Minerals, to the network, providing speeds over 100 gigabytes per second.
Looking ahead, PowerTel’s investment roadmap includes plans to allocate up to US$355 million for fixed access and an additional US$50 million for advancements in long-term evolution and fifth-generation internet, as well as the national backbone network.
