GREAT
news
for
internet
users
across
Zimbabwe
–
Starlink
has
officially
launched
nationwide
services
as
of
September
7,
2024.
After
months
of
anticipation
and
a
slight
delay,
Zimbabweans
can
now
order
Starlink
equipment
directly
and
enjoy
high-speed
satellite
internet.
Let
us
break
down
everything
you
need
to
know
about
getting
connected
with
Starlink
in
Zimbabwe.
Pricing
and
Package
Options
Starlink
is
offering
two
residential
packages
for
Zimbabwean
customers:
Standard
Package:
US$50
per
month
and
Mini
Package:
US$30
per
month.
Both
packages
provide
unlimited
data.
The
key
differences
are
in
the
hardware
and
speeds:
Standard
Package
-
Hardware
cost:
US$350 -
Speeds
up
to
200
Mbps -
Best
for
multiple
users
and
high-bandwidth
activities
Mini
Package
-
Hardware
cost:
US$200 -
Speeds
up
to
100
Mbps -
Ideal
for
basic
internet
use
and
smaller
households
There’s
also
a
one-time
shipping
fee
of
US$23.
This
direct
pricing
from
Starlink
is
significantly
lower
than
earlier
quotes
from
resellers.
For
example,
Frampol,
an
approved
Starlink
reseller
in
Zimbabwe,
had
quoted
US$460
for
hardware.
The
lower
direct
prices
make
Starlink
much
more
accessible
to
Zimbabwean
consumers.
How
to
Order
Your
Starlink
Kit
Ordering
your
Starlink
equipment
is
a
straightforward
process.
Visit http://starlink.com and
go
to
orders.
Enter
your
service
address.
Choose
your
preferred
hardware
option.
Provide
contact
and
payment
details.
Complete
your
order.
Starlink
accepts
various
payment
methods,
including
credit/debit
cards
and
even
EcoCash.
For
those
who
prefer
to
use
EcoCash,
you
can
utilise
the
EcoCash
Virtual
Card
Number
(VCN)
service
to
make
your
Starlink
payment.
Here
is
s
how:
Dial
*151#
on
your
mobile.
Select
“Wallet
Services”.
Choose
“EcoCash
Debit
Card”.
Select
“EcoCash
MasterCard
Virtual”.
Choose
“Request
Virtual
Card
(VCN)”.
You’ll
receive
a
message
with
a
one-time
virtual
card
number.
Use
this
number
as
you
would
a
regular
credit
card
when
ordering
on
the
Starlink
website.
Remember,
you
will
need
a
sufficient
United
States
dollar
balance
in
your
EcoCash
wallet
to
cover
the
full
cost
of
your
chosen
Starlink
package.
Activating
Your
Starlink
Service
Once
your
equipment
arrives
(typically
within
1-2
weeks),
activation
is
simple:
Download
the
Starlink
app
on
your
smartphone.
Follow
the
in-app
instructions
to
set
up
your
dish.
Connect
your
devices
to
your
new
Starlink
WiFi
network.
Coverage
and
Performance
Starlink’s
satellite
constellation
provides
coverage
across
all
of
Zimbabwe.
However,
service
quality
can
vary
slightly
based
on
factors
like:
Line
of
sight
to
the
sky;
Surrounding
obstacles
(trees,
tall
buildings)
and
local
weather
conditions.
Most
users
can
expect
speeds
between
50-200
Mbps,
with
latency
around
20-40ms.
This
is
a
significant
improvement
over
many
existing
internet
options
in
Zimbabwe,
especially
in
rural
areas.
Starlink
vs.
Other
Options
The
arrival
of
Starlink
introduces
robust
competition
to
Zimbabwe’s
internet
market.
Let’s
compare
it
to
some
existing
options:
TelOne
Blaze
LTE:
Offers
speeds
up
to
100
Mbps
in
select
urban
areas,
but
with
data
caps.
Starlink
provides
wider
coverage
and
unlimited
data.
Econet
SmartBiz:
A
strong
5G
offering,
but
limited
to
areas
with
5G
infrastructure.
Starlink
can
serve
both
urban
and
rural
customers.
Traditional
Fibre:
Often
faster
in
urban
centres,
but
installation
can
be
costly
and
unavailable
in
many
areas.
Starlink
offers
a
quicker
setup
with
broader
coverage.
Is
Starlink
Right
for
You?
Starlink
is
an
excellent
option
for:
-
Rural
residents
with
limited
internet
choices -
Users
needing
consistent,
high-speed
connections -
Households
with
multiple
internet
users -
Anyone
frustrated
by
data
caps
or
slow
speeds.