Case Study: Econet Wireless reclaims diaspora calling revenue with PortaOne's CallHome solution

Econet Wireless turns $2/minute OTT revenue loss into new income with PortaOne

Econet Wireless, Zimbabwe's largest mobile operator, faced a significant challenge as Over-the-Top (OTT) apps like WhatsApp caused a drastic reduction in international calling revenue. The large Zimbabwean diaspora abroad switched to free calling services, leaving Econet with minimal income. To address this, Econet partnered with vendor PortaOne to develop a solution using the PortaDialer softphone and PortaSwitch platform.

The solution was the CallHome app, which allows expatriates to call Zimbabwe for free. Its key advantage, powered by PortaOne's technology and Econet's network, is that it works even when the recipient in Zimbabwe has no data balance, a guarantee OTT apps cannot offer. This unique feature helped Econet transform the diaspora into a new revenue source through mobile top-ups and other services, successfully turning a revenue leak into multiple income streams.

Econet Wireless