Broadlands Networks plans to launch a commercial 4G network in Zimbabwe in the near future. They hope to offer voice and data services in three Zimbabwean cities, Harare, Bulawayo and Gweru with its own last-mile infrastructure. The company wants to complete 4G coverage of the entire country by June 2010.

The information being released by Broadlands hasn’t yet identified which next generation technology will be used, but it will most likely be WiMax and not LTE. To support the launch, the company has installed a fiber optic connection in Harare’s high density areas to support the 4G service.

Broadlands contracted Alcatel Shanghai Bell to help with build out. It owns the spectrum space necessary to launch a WiMax network and belongs to the Zimbabwe Internet Access Providers Association. The company was formed in South Africa and has influence in several other African countries.