Potraz launches traffic monitoring system

Ivan Zhakata and Michael Tome

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) yesterday launched a telecommunications traffic monitoring and profits assurance program so as to guarantee total accountability in the provision of general public telecommunication solutions.

The system is a highly innovative regulatory instrument, which enables the Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe to combat network fraud, enforce billing integrity and earnings assurance, and deal with disputes on nationwide interconnections, should really they crop up.

But it are not able to examine the true written content of what is carried by the channels, only where the site visitors arrives from and goes and who is paying out for what.

Talking at the start, Facts Interaction Technological know-how, Postal and Courier Companies Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, explained the program would be capable to evaluate nationwide interconnection targeted visitors, also referred to as off-internet targeted traffic.

Minister Muswere stated the procedure offers the Govt the capability to measure and compute several stats on both domestic and international telecommunication targeted traffic.

“Government is happy that the procedure will help in combating telecommunication fraud perpetrated via site visitors refiling and the use of gray routes or unlawful gateways in the conveyancing of global site visitors,” he explained.

“The fraudulent targeted visitors ends up getting refiled into public networks through sim boxes or unlawful gateways therefore prejudicing the operators and the economy of the significantly required international currency earnings. Whole visibility of the sector, correct figures, accountability, and elimination of fraud are critical features for the development of the ICT sector in Zimbabwe.

“It is as a result my viewed as look at that the implementation of the telecommunications targeted visitors monitoring and revenue assurance method was overdue as the sector varieties one particular of the big pillars in stimulating financial progress and progress in direction of achievement of eyesight 2030. Without having a strong technique in the ICT sector, the sector was susceptible to manipulation and leakages.”

Minister Muswere explained Potraz performed a pivotal role in supporting the Good Zimbabwe 2030 Master Approach jointly with the Sustainable Growth Goals which had been all tailored to expedite and warranty the achievement of Eyesight 2030.

Authorities was committed to making sure expansion in the sector and would continue on to participate in its oversight part as perfectly as furnishing a ahead seeking and adaptable coverage setting for the ICT sector.

The committee utilizing the new method contains Potraz, the ICT Ministry, Legal professional General’s Workplace, Ministry of Finance and Economic Enhancement, the Zimbabwe Human Legal rights Commission, the Ministry dependable for security of particular info and the operators of telecommunications networks. It experienced the critical job of furnishing oversight on the procedure of the telecommunications targeted traffic monitoring and earnings assurance procedure and in ensuring the safety of personal details and information and facts.

“It must be underlined at this place that the telecommunications targeted traffic monitoring and profits assurance process does not have the ability to observe information and dialogue. The procedure is minimal to interacting with the signaling phase of the community and does not accessibility targeted traffic channels,” Minister Muswere stated.

Potraz director general Dr Present Machengete mentioned the regulator had been reliant on cellular community operators’ self-declaratory routine, exactly where operators declare their very own revenues.

He mentioned the information and statements earlier delivered by operators had the prospective of staying inaccurate thus perhaps prejudicing the nation of earnings.

“This commissioning facilitates the implementation of a reducing-edge engineering-based program that will properly keep an eye on telecommunication visitors and present correct true-time knowledge assortment. This will give the authority improved visibility of market dynamics which is crucial for powerful, productive and ahead looking regulation,” claimed Dr Machengete.