Zimbabwean Mobile Telcos Say Customers Refunded after Internet Shutdown

The three main mobile operators in Zimbabwe have denied allegations that they did not reimburse customers after internet access was cut in January. The Mail and Telegraph is reporting that Neotone, Telecel and Econet have claimed that they have reimbursed everyone who bought bundles but were unable to use them during the government-created shutdown. The report says that the operators claimed everyone affected had been refunded.

In January the Guardian in London reported on how there had been a blackout on social media apps after civil unrest, arrests, strikes and protests over fuel prices, but the Zimbabwean High Court had ordered the government to restore full access.

After the blackout people complained they had paid for internet access which they couldn’t use. Now the three main mobile operators in Zimbabwe have denied allegations that they did not reimburse customers and say everyone who was affected has had a refund.

Users in developing nations are more likely to access the internet by mobile than via fixed connection. Zimbabwe is one of the most expensive countries for internet access because it is poor, landlocked and has low population density. The Alliance for Affordable Internet Affordability Report 2018 says that around the world, over two billion people live in a country where just 1GB of mobile data is unaffordable.

Marianne Curphey
Marianne Curpheyhttps://curpheymedia.co.uk/index.htm
Marianne Curphey is an award-winning freelance writer, blogger and columnist. She is a former Editor of Guardian Money online, City News Editor of The Guardian, Insurance Correspondent of The Times and Deputy Personal Finance Editor at The Times.

Related Articles

Get Our Weekly Newsletter by Email