In Zimbabwe’s busiest cities, Harare and Bulawayo, it’s difficult to miss the white pizza-box-shaped Starlink Terminals mounted on cars. These satellite kits are mounted on the roofs of even the humblest Honda Fit Taxis, which cruise from suburb-to-suburb as a visible sign of the country’s newest tech interest.
When Starlink arrived in Zimbabwe late September 2024 it was noted as an important step forward, especially for a nation where reliable internet is still elusive outside of the urban core. According to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, (POTRAZ), by Q1 2025 there were over 30,000 terminals active across the country.
Starlink’s low-earth-orbit satellite internet promises stable, high-speed and wide-coverage Internet, which traditional Internet Service Providers have struggled to provide for years. In urban Zimbabwe, there is a growing appetite for internet. Never Ncube is the CEO of Dandemutande in Zimbabwe, Starlink’s authorized reseller. “There has been an increase in adoption by individuals, schools, businesses and even public institutions,” he said. “The services are used as primary and secondary internet connections.”
But behind the uptake is a deeper tension: who gets to connect, and who gets left out.
While Starlink’s low latency satellite technology is a game changer in terms of speed and reach, cost remains an issue as hardware purchases and subscriptions are priced in USD, leaving many rural users struggling to afford, said John Arufandika a digital transformation strategy at Aptiva AI.
In Zimbabwe’s rural areas, where over 90% of the population lives in rural areas, there are currently no internet connections. The picture is less futuristic when 60% live. Due to the high cost, this same high-speed service remains out of reach for most. The standard hardware kit is $350 while the smaller portable Starlink Mini costs $200. The monthly subscriptions begin at $30, and must be paid for in U.S. Dollars. This is well beyond the means of most rural households (76%). Live below poverty line, but can afford. According to Arufandika, the promise of rural kids online and farmers accessing weather information, as well as startups in remote towns, is far-fetched, because “access in rural areas is mostly limited to donor-funded initiatives and missionary schools, so far.”
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ISPs, a wake-up call?
Arufandika noted Starlink’s arrival also stirs unease among local ISPs, many of whom have struggled for years to expand reliable connectivity in rural areas. Starlink launched in September, but local ISPs were only granted permission to offer similar services in January 2025. This gave the U.S. disruptor an important head start. Starlink’s rapid entrance is forcing the question: Will this force local ISPs into improving and expanding, or will they lose users to a more accessible alternative?
Although the long-term impacts are still unclear, Ncube cautioned it is too early to predict how Starlink’s entry will reshape Zimbabwe’s connectivity landscape, whether through competition, collaboration or hybrid strategies. After a year, a clearer picture will emerge.
Arufandika pointed out that some ISPs are using Starlink’s backhaul network in remote areas to extend their coverage. Starlink’s direct-to-consumer business model leaves local players without formal reseller paths or enterprise-grade partnership. There is limited support for local resellers, so many ISPs are locked out until they find a workaround.
Arufandika said, “The playing field is not even.” “Starlink operates in Zimbabwe with fewer ground infrastructure requirements and lighter regulatory demands. Local players find it difficult to compete when they don’t play by the same rules.
POTRAZ signaled its willingness to revisit licensing frameworks and spectrum allocations to accommodate nonterrestrial networks. For now, policy is lagging behind technology – and this gap is being exploited.
Arufandika said, “There are legitimate concerns about digital sovereignty.” “Who owns infrastructure? Who controls the data? What happens when critical connectivity passes through foreign satellites outside local jurisdiction?”
Zimbabwe could be on a similar path to Nigeria, where local ISPs have already lost market share to Starlink. If local operators don’t adapt quickly and regulators don’t level the playing field, the country could face a growing digital divide in which only those who are connected will reap the benefits of satellite technology.
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