3.5 Postal and Courier Traffic The total number of post offices stood at 226 as at 31 December 2015. 70 out of the offices had internet connectivity. International incoming postal and courier items stood at 471,206. However local postal and courier as well as international outgoing postal and courier items have steadily registered declines over the past decade. 3.6 Licensed Communications Providers According to POTRAZ’s register, as of December 2015, there were eleven (11) up-to-date Internet Access Providers (IAPs); two (2) Public Data Service Providers; one (1) Postal Service General Operator; four (4) Mobile Cellular Communications Operators; one (1) Fixed Telephony Operator; and forty (40) Private Network License holders. There is a single national television broadcaster and five (5) national radio broadcasters - one (1) privately owned – since 2012, with twenty eight (28) unlicensed community radio initiatives since 2011. 4 ICT Sector Challenges in Zimbabwe Despite the developments that are outlined in 3 above the ICT sector has been faced with a number of challenges. Some of these include:a) Inadequate communications infrastructure:Whilst there has been significant roll out of communications infrastructure with 2G exceeding 75% population coverage (as at 31 December 2015), high speed broadband coverage is still patchy with most rural and remote areas remaining uncovered due to a nonholistic approach to universal service. Broadband coverage in rural and remote areas remains low. Coverage is mainly concentrated in affluent urban areas. This is widening the urban-rural digital divide against the principle of equitable access. b) Inadequate Commercial Electricity:The national power grid does not cover the whole country which leaves a significant population dependent on alternative power sources which tend to be more expensive. Even those who are on the national grid experience erratic supply. This shortage has had adverse effects on the development and use of ICTs. c) Inadequate ICT skills:There is a shortage of ICT skilled manpower to roll out ICT programmes. This shortage has a knock-on digital literacy which drives uptake and usage of ICT services. There is need to integrate ICTs in the education curricula commencing from early childhood education level as well as promote ICTs uptake within communities. 14