Starlink, SpaceX’s high-speed satellite internet service, has officially launched in Zimbabwe, becoming available in the 14th African country. The service is also accessible in several other African nations, including Botswana, South Sudan, and Sierra Leone.
Zimbabwean subscribers can purchase the regular Starlink dish and router for US$350 or opt for the more portable Mini dish with a built-in router for US$200. These prices are notably lower than in the US, where the regular kit is priced at US$599.
Recent tests on Starlink’s compact dish have revealed impressive results, with speeds and latency comparable to the regular kit. The compact dish offers average download speeds exceeding 100Mbps and uploads of around 15Mbps, making it a promising option for users who need high-speed internet on the go, even at speeds exceeding 100km/h.
Like in other regions, Starlink’s delivery fees for Zimbabwe are likely to vary by location. For instance, delivery to Harare incurs a $23 (R410) shipping and handling fee. The residential subscription for Starlink in Zimbabwe is priced at $50 per month, equivalent to approximately R893 at the time of publication, aligning with fees in other Southern African countries.
Starlink is now available in four of South Africa’s six neighbouring countries, with Lesotho and Namibia yet to onboard the service. Lesotho is expected to roll out the service by the third quarter of 2024, while Namibia’s launch is anticipated before the year-end. However, the rollout has faced uncertainty in South Africa since late 2022, when the company revised the estimated rollout date to “unknown.”
Challenges have hindered Starlink’s expansion in South Africa, including obtaining legal authorization under the country’s telecom ownership regulations. Starlink prefers to offer services directly to customers, unlike traditional internet service providers, which require compliance with local licensing requirements. This has been a key impediment to the company’s expansion in the country.
While many South African households and businesses in remote areas have been leveraging Starlink’s roaming service since 2023, operational changes to the roaming policy have posed new challenges. With the implementation of Starlink’s 60-day continuous roaming use limit in August 2024, users can only access the service for two months before needing to access Starlink from the country of registration where the kit was imported. However, the enhanced availability of Starlink along South Africa’s borders could facilitate easier access for users if they register their kits in neighbouring countries.
