Powertel users face data blackout

POWERTEL, one of the country's leading internet providers has introduced a usage based data system, departing from their weekly and monthly unlimited access which has in the past given the company an urge over other internet providers.

Under the new system which was introduced on Monday this week, subscribers will have to purchase gigabytes of data to use at a time, throwing the company back into the ordinary service category.

Bundles that have been introduced include $23 for 1GB, $39 for 2GB, $58 for 3GB to about $230 that buys 20GB.

But even if people had the 10s and 20s to pay for mobile internet in a month, Powertel was selling unlimited internet for just $35.

"Now, that can't even buy you 2GB. We doubt Powertel has a choice. The internet economics are brutal. The unlimited internet was probably bleeding them too much revenue," a business analyst who preferred not to be named said.

Most Zimbabweans especially students relied on Powertel to do academic research on the web to and this new development might leave them stranded.