The Starlink internet service has just gone in live in Botswana. The country becomes the 6th country in Southern Africa to get the service.
Starlink was approved in Botswana in May this year following a meeting between the country’s president and Starlink executives in the US. The Botswana presidency announced the meeting, paving way for the licensing. Before then, the country had expressly banned the service.
Starlink Prices in Botswana
To buy a Starlink kit in Botswana is P4,820 which works about US $360. This is in line with the kit prices in African countries where Starlink is already operational.
The monthly subscription price for the basic residential one is P688, which works out to US $51. Again, in line with the new Starlink prices in the other countries.
A Starlink monthly subscription was roughly below $30 for the residential in all these countries, but prices were hiked by almost 100% this month. Botswana is starting at the new increased price. This has to be the expectation for all African countries were Starlink goes live onward.
The regional roaming price is P1,380 which is about $100 in US dollars.
The difference between Starlink Residential and Roaming
The residential package is for people that will use their Starlink at their registered address or within 3 to 5km. Ofcourse this would be in a country where Starlink is licensed to operate.
Roam is where you want to use Starlink away from your home or a Starlink licensed country. This is generally how people in countries where Starlink is not licensed yet (like Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia etc…) have been using the service. The roam service used to be under $40 a month, but this too was increased in August to the current $100.
Starlink on the continent
Other countries that already have Starlink are Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Eswatini. Zimbabwe is expected to have the service soon.
The general expectation on the continent was that South Africa, being the largest economy on the continent, would be be first to go live with the service. But as we write this, South Africans who have been using the service on Roaming, are facing uncertainty with disconnections reportedly happening.
What is clear however is that Starlink itself is determined to expand on the continent, which a new country going live every so often. Ghana, in West Africa, also went live this week.
Starlink ‘s expansion has increased competitive pressure on incumbent internet providers and mobile operators on the continent, forcing them to revise their prices and to introduce unlimited packages at more affordable rates.
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If you are struggling with buying Starlink for any reason, general payment challenges, transferring a kit to Zimbabwe, selecting the right hardware for their needs, installation, accessories, troubleshooting Starlink and other such issues… a local ICT company, Safari Mounts, is helping Zimbabweans navigate Starlink problems with some hand holding. They can be contacted via this Google form and are charging a nominal fee to help. Techzim benefits a referral fee when they help you.
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30 comments
Looks like African countries, most of whose top brass benefit from existing network service providers, requested Starlink to increase the tariff so as given the network service providers a lifeline.
If Starlink was making a profit and happy, why did they have to increase? I hope the difference is not remaining in Africa.
The increase was world wide not just Africa
The pricing structure should have a special dispensation for pensioners.
Why the 100% increase in tariffs ko nhai Elon …haa broe
It’s called capitalism 😆😆😆😆😆
All that nonsense about helping the world.
To make up for the cheap kits $ 360. Those kits costs way over than that . Kits are heavily subsidized. Starlink at $ 100 is excellent. Get 2 friends at that location and you pay $ 33 each. Best thing ever to Zim.
Back to the bush to connect more schools. Now at a lower cost.
I’m interested for my household connection in Palapye Botswana
https://www.techzim.co.zw/2018/11/uhuru-tv-will-blow-your-mind/
Goes nicely with Starlink
Licensing of Starlink in Zimbabwe requires political connections of high standing not mere rookies.
So African Countries requested Elon to increase prices as to protect the local ISPs well its a fair deal.Its now up to the ISPs to offer better service, affordable prices.Of course Elon will win in areas where ISPs cannot offer service,like farms, rural ,game, safari,lodges deep in the country sides.
Indigenous econet is doing price gouging. Starlink a foreign company is having mercy on us exploited zimbabweans
“Ghana, in West Africa, also went this week.” Ghana also went this week? Where did Ghana go to?
Reseller its game over lol
What is the radius of Starlink from a border post for example Plumtree or Forbes?
Can you fool the system into accepting renewal of your roaming since it is 3 km – 5km from you residence, what if I put my residence at the border
Aaa starlink maprice achoo haafadze
They’re actually quite reasonable compared to local unlimited bandwidth packages… The government’s are the ones who asked for starlink to raise prices…… Cause local operators simply couldn’t lower their own, to offset costs of building
infrastructure
but you dont have infrastructures they must learn to adapt to survive , not ask prices to be increased for the whole country , selfish bastards …
What separates Starlink with the other service providers that we have locally?
More affordable subscriptions,higher bandwidth, and it works anywhere.
Yaah we need Star Link in Zimbabwe. Econet tariffs are a killer in Zimbwe also the service is now shambolic. Lots of rural areas in Zw there is no international. In some rural areas you walk long distances to make a call or you climb a tree or house roofs. We want new players for a better service. Econet must fall
So you mean, an African company must fall? You support Western companies over your African companies?
Well they are greedy people
we welcome starlink, internet is very expensive currently
It’s good that the prices are going up, local ISPs will now have a chance to provide it’s customers with affordable services. This is really good.
I think the price in US$ should be the same across all Southern African countries. And also subscriptions should be done in local currencies as well
The Starlink Kit and the Monthly subscriptions are what they are, if you can afford it. But the ‘roaming’ charges? Honestly, you expect roaming charges outside of your country not 5km from your home – making it quite a pricy venture..
Obviously if this is to be a static connection for a rural area that has no local coverage, this option is to be considered.
all internet providers will soon close shop after Starlink’s approval. As a small providers we can’t compete with such giant
bennet
How do l apply Starlink in Botswana?
Other than residential, what business packages are available, with prices, in Botswana.
What is the monthly subscription fee for Starlink Business package in Botswana