Zimbabwe Expands AI-Powered Telecommunications Infrastructure

Zimbabwe is emerging as a testbed for AI-powered telecommunications infrastructure as Econet InfraCo expands its tower portfolio while deploying artificial intelligence to optimize energy consumption and maintenance.

The company, which listed on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange in April, deployed 90 new base stations during the quarter ended May 2026, while expanding its use of AI to improve predictive generator maintenance, optimize fuel utilization, and enhance infrastructure reliability.

The rollout of an AI Fuel Manager solution has reduced energy consumption while improving availability and uptime, critical in a country that experiences frequent power outages.

Beyond fuel management, InfraCo is advancing an AI-enabled Remote Monitoring System and a digital twin initiative that enables digital monitoring and remote maintenance of base stations.

These AI tools are designed to increase the efficiency of the company's technology platforms while supporting a broader strategy of retiring 2G and 3G sites and reallocating spectrum to support 4G and 5G services.

The company has also commenced construction of Phase 1 of a 100MW solar farm that will supply renewable energy to developments within Econet Tech City, which will include a data center and solar power plant in Harare.

"The business is strategically driving towards an autonomous network with capabilities that are designed to prevent and mitigate disruptions by using AI and machine learning." – Tatenda Ngowe, Group Secretary of Econet Wireless

Econet's infrastructure push is reinforced by a strategic partnership with Ericsson, signed at Mobile World Congress 2026, to design, test, and deploy next-generation mobile services powered by AI, 5G Advanced, and enhanced network security.

The collaboration will focus on AI-driven radio access network optimization, energy-efficient network evolution, network slicing, and IoT-enabled services to enhance network performance and boost user experiences.

The partnership builds on more than 20 years of technology collaboration and aligns with Zimbabwe's national ICT Policy 2022–2027.

The infrastructure expansion comes as Zimbabwe formally launches its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026-2030), built on six pillars including AI talent development, infrastructure, public service adoption, governance and ethics, research and innovation, and international collaboration.

The strategy prioritizes investment in fiber backbone infrastructure, data centers, cloud services, 4G expansion, 5G readiness, and rural connectivity solutions.

As the AI telecommunications transformation in Zimbabwe continues, the country is positioning itself as a regional leader in AI-powered connectivity.

The combination of government commitment, private sector investment, and international partnerships suggests that AI will play an increasingly central role in expanding and optimizing the country's digital infrastructure. 

For the broader region, Zimbabwe's approach offers a model for leveraging AI to address the perennial challenges of energy reliability, network optimization, and rural connectivity that have long constrained African telecommunications development.