News / National
Starlink opens capacity in Harare and Bulawayo
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After weeks of being sold out in congested areas of Harare, its surrounding towns, and Bulawayo, Starlink has reopened its capacity - but with restrictions. The service is now available exclusively through business packages, and only via authorized resellers TelOne and Aura.
The authorized resellers had previously halted sales in these high-demand areas but recently resumed accepting customers, including those seeking to transfer roaming kits to local addresses. However, this progress comes with limitations that may dissuade individual users.
In the congested zones, customers cannot access Starlink's most affordable residential packages. For example, TelOne is offering a minimum package priced at $160 per month, which includes the 1TB Priority plan. This is significantly higher than the $101 Starlink charges directly and far exceeds the $50 or less that many individuals hope to pay for reliable, unlimited internet.
The $160 price tag includes markups from authorized resellers and Zimbabwean taxes. Additionally, lower-tier packages like the 40GB Priority plan are currently unavailable in these areas.
For businesses in Harare and Bulawayo, the reopening of Starlink's capacity offers a lifeline, especially for those struggling with internet connectivity due to the congestion. The availability of the 1TB Priority package may meet the needs of enterprises requiring consistent and reliable bandwidth.
For individual users, the high cost of business packages might outweigh the benefits. Competing options like Econet's SmartBiz or Utande's StartMax and SuperMax packages could offer better value in areas where fibre is available. However, much of the sold-out zone, stretching from Mvurwi through Harare CBD to Wedza, lacks fibre coverage, leaving Starlink as one of the few viable options.
Direct purchases of business packages from Starlink.com for Harare and Bulawayo appear possible, and the 40GB Priority plan is listed. However, it remains unclear if such orders are processed without delays. Potential buyers are encouraged to share their experiences to help others navigate this process.
While the reopening of Starlink capacity is a positive step for businesses in Zimbabwe's most congested areas, the lack of affordable residential packages leaves many individual users at a disadvantage. For those in areas without fibre, Starlink's business offerings might be the only solution - albeit at a steep cost.
The authorized resellers had previously halted sales in these high-demand areas but recently resumed accepting customers, including those seeking to transfer roaming kits to local addresses. However, this progress comes with limitations that may dissuade individual users.
In the congested zones, customers cannot access Starlink's most affordable residential packages. For example, TelOne is offering a minimum package priced at $160 per month, which includes the 1TB Priority plan. This is significantly higher than the $101 Starlink charges directly and far exceeds the $50 or less that many individuals hope to pay for reliable, unlimited internet.
The $160 price tag includes markups from authorized resellers and Zimbabwean taxes. Additionally, lower-tier packages like the 40GB Priority plan are currently unavailable in these areas.
For individual users, the high cost of business packages might outweigh the benefits. Competing options like Econet's SmartBiz or Utande's StartMax and SuperMax packages could offer better value in areas where fibre is available. However, much of the sold-out zone, stretching from Mvurwi through Harare CBD to Wedza, lacks fibre coverage, leaving Starlink as one of the few viable options.
Direct purchases of business packages from Starlink.com for Harare and Bulawayo appear possible, and the 40GB Priority plan is listed. However, it remains unclear if such orders are processed without delays. Potential buyers are encouraged to share their experiences to help others navigate this process.
While the reopening of Starlink capacity is a positive step for businesses in Zimbabwe's most congested areas, the lack of affordable residential packages leaves many individual users at a disadvantage. For those in areas without fibre, Starlink's business offerings might be the only solution - albeit at a steep cost.
Source - techzim
