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Starlink, SpaceX’s ground-breaking satellite internet service, has been making waves across Africa, offering high-speed internet even in the most remote areas. Many Zimbabweans have eagerly purchased Starlink kits from neighbouring countries to take advantage of this new technology. However, before you join them (if you haven’t already), there’s something crucial you need to know: Starlink is about to officially launch in Zimbabwe, and waiting for this local launch could save you a lot of money and hassle.
As someone who has helped hundreds of people buy, register and activate Starlink kits throughout Africa, I’ve seen it happening in Eswatini and Botswana, where people in those countries rushed to buy ‘roaming kits’ only for Starlink to shortly thereafter go live and the challenges that would follow.
This article helps bring those challenges before you, so that when you’re making the decision, you make it with all information at hand.
Should You Buy The Starlink Kit Now?
If your need for a Starlink kit isn’t immediate, my advice is simple: wait!
Currently, Gen 2 Standard Starlink kits are being sold in Zimbabwe for between $600 and $850. These kits are imported from other regions and resold here, with deliveries typically made to major cities like Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo and Mutare. But these imported kits come with several downsides.
Why Waiting Makes Sense
- Transfer Wait Period
The cheapest way to use Starlink in Zimbabwe will be via the Residential package, you can see a breakdown of all the packages that will be available in Zimbabwe here. Now if you buy a Starlink kit from outside of Zimbabwe you can’t simply change its address and put in a Zimbabwean address, you have to go through a process of ‘transferring the kit’.
Now when you buy a roaming kit from another country, you’re required to keep it active for at least four months (120 days) or pay for at least three months (90 days) of subscription before you can even consider transferring it to a local Zimbabwean service. On top of that, these roaming kits come with a ‘steep’ monthly subscription fee of around $100. - Cost
The good news is that Starlink is on the brink of officially launching in Zimbabwe. When it does, the overall cost of a Starlink kit is expected to drop significantly, with prices likely ranging between $350 and $380. Even more appealing is the anticipated subscription cost, which is expected to be much lower—possibly in the range of $30 to $50 per month.
Waiting for the official launch could save you hundreds of dollars on both the initial kit and ongoing subscription fees. - Beware of the New ‘Out of Region’ Fee
Starlink has recently introduced an ‘out of region’ fee to discourage the unauthorized resale of kits across different regions. This fee is aimed at preventing users from purchasing Starlink kits outside their designated service areas and then using them elsewhere. For someone in Zimbabwe, this means that if you buy a Starlink kit from another country, you could be hit with additional fees, making your internet service even more expensive. You can read more about this fee in this article by PCMag. - Two Month Roaming Policy
Additionally, Starlink has started enforcing a two-month roaming policy. According to a report by MyBroadband, users in South Africa and other regions have found their roaming services cut off after two months of continuous use outside their registered region. This means that if you buy a kit registered in another country and use it in Zimbabwe, you might lose access after two months, leaving you without internet until you can switch to a local service—another reason to hold off until the official Zimbabwean launch. - The Importance of Local Support and Warranty
Another crucial factor to consider is support and warranty services. If you purchase your Starlink kit locally once it becomes available in Zimbabwe, you’ll benefit from local customer support. This means faster response times for any issues you encounter and easier access to warranty services if your equipment is faulty. Relying on support from another country can be time-consuming and frustrating, especially if you need to send equipment back for repairs or replacement. - Payment Gateways—A Local Advantage
Zimbabwean Starlink users who have been managing their own subscriptions have had to navigate foreign payment gateways, such as DPO, which cater more to markets like Malawi and Zambia. DPO, while helpful, doesn’t operate widely in Zimbabwe and doesn’t support local payment methods like Ecocash, Innbucks, or O’mari, which are among the most convenient options for Zimbabweans.
Starlink aims to be as convenient as possible in the markets they operate in. For instance, they integrated M-Pesa in Kenya earlier this year, making payments easier for local users. Once Starlink launches in Zimbabwe, it’s likely they will introduce local payment options, reducing the risk of payment failures and making it easier for you to keep your subscription active. This could also present an opportunity for local payment platforms like PayNow to partner with Starlink, providing even more convenient payment solutions.
Final Thoughts
If you can wait a little longer, doing so could save you a significant amount of money and spare you from the complications of dealing with foreign services and fees. Starlink’s official launch in Zimbabwe promises cheaper kits, lower subscription fees, and the convenience of local support and payment options. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to get connected with the best possible deal when Starlink finally goes live in Zimbabwe!
For any further questions or support regarding Starlink, feel free to reach out. We also encourage you to join our Facebook group, where we regularly share updates, answer questions, and discuss everything related to Starlink in Zimbabwe.
Join our Facebook group: Starlink Zimbabwe Community
By waiting just a little longer, you’ll be better prepared to take full advantage of Starlink’s services when they become available in Zimbabwe, ensuring you get the most value for your investment.
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40 comments
Thanks for the heads up,I really appreciate it, It’s worth it to wait!
Happy to read that you found value in the post. Please consider sharing it with family and friends who may not have this information and make a costly mistake
And there i was , taking quotations from local suppliers & even thinking of importing by myself. No one tells you of all those added costs and restrictions. Thanx for saving my dollar. Praying Starlink comes soon
When are the kits coming officially and thanks for the advice
Information at hand points to any time this month. Initially it was 1 September, but that date came and went, without anything happening, so now it’s an ‘any day now’ thing
Can we really bank on starlink being cheaper here given the history of overpricing in Zim, will the pricing be regulated?
Starlink will sell the kit directly to the consumer, and any Reseller whom they partner with must sell at the Recommended Retail Price, so yes, the devices will not be more than the Starlink price, when you buy through official channels
This is Zimbabwe, better buy and suffer than wait and never get it 🤣🤣🤣
Tech zim can we get other tech newz not starlink all tge tym
Techzim tipei update on Econet Smartbiz seems the requirements have changed,its now a must to have a mifi which will be bonded with the simcard using the IMEI no mifi and simcard if you remove the simcard from the mifi it will not work anymore on any other device.
I have heard about this, but i bought mine today without the mifi
I’m sure the Techzim guys will look in to this, but as a layman, I’d only see them having value in doing this when you buy the mifi device from them.
If this is true, which I highly doubt, then it could be that their trying to curtail the abuse of the service, as some entrepreneurial aspiring Zimbabweans are starting wi-fi hotspots with them…
Had a tussle getting mine registered at econet chisipiti. They demanded to have the mifi first before changing sim to be a data sim. Afterwards they refused to register the mifi saying we should have an indoor wall unit with at least 2 LAN ports and other minimum requirements. After many calls they finally accepted the mifi and indeed they want to sim lock to your mifi device registering the IMEI to the sim. I don’t know how or what that means but seems guys on the ground are making rules as they go.
Hie. It’s true that they are not registering you without the mifi as my experience at Chisipiti econet seems to suggest. They even went to reject the mifi device I bought because you need specific specs such as 32 users and the like. I think the guys on the ground are not sure then making the rules as they go because I called the smart biz toll free number and they had us registered hopefully paying today and won’t be told other stories
I’m sure the guys at Techzim note your suggestion, in my end, my expertise right now rests with information around Starlink and setting up in Zimbabwe. As Starlink are about to go live in Zimbabwe, I feel it’s prudent that everyone has important knowledge before they make costly mistakes
Thanks please I want one that is not expensive at all in nigeria
Can you pliz help me out on geo locked and non geo locked sim cards for ZOL, TELONE etc
get econet smartbiz instead
Enda ku econet kune non locked geo sim cards ari kupisa $45 unlimited data, but u must have a mifi device with to buy the sim.
In Nigeria, and 14 other African countries, you buy directly from Starlink on their website, Starlink.com.
What is the anticipated launch date
Right now it’s at ‘any day now’. Any date stated is a guesstimate, but keep checking back here and as well as on X.com (@Techzim) for updates
Does rhe econet line support any mifi router
When is starlink going live in this useless country. I hope not next year or 20230
Thank you so much for this information it is very helpful as I was just about to invest in a bought out of zone ones
In that case I’ve saved myself headaches I wasn’t even aware of. This area is really not known to us we rely on what we are told by others. So much appreciated
I’m happy to read that Sharon. Right now Starlink’s launch is imminent and it’s advisable to get as many of your friends and family to get this valuable information before they make a costly mistake.
All the best
When are they officially launching?
Any time during September, but I expect it sooner rather than later
Hi Good morning
Thank you for yr artical above
When do you expect the launch date to happen
What service providers do you recommend
When can I buy my Starlink
Thank you
Thank you for this. As I’m really wanting to get one for our home out in the Vumba areas in Mutare. I wanted to buy from UK but I think it’s better to wait until you can buy one in ZIMS . Thanks
1 september akauya ndo kuenda. You guys who is your source?
Very nice thank you Zimbabwe
Will Zimbabweans be able to buy Starlink kits online, directly from Starlink website and get the devices shipped without extra costs, like was the case in Zambia?
This was very informative and clarified a lot of questions. Thanks
Who are the authorised distributors
Will the mini / portable kits also be available when they launch
What’s your comment on the pre registration process where one has to pay $10 to ”join the queue”
Who are the authorised distributors
Will the mini / portable kits also be available when they launch?
What’s your comment on the pre registration process where one has to pay $10 to ”join the queue” and get priority when the kits arrive?
If you know Zim well you wld buy starlink now & enjoy the service than wait for the nonsense politics that we ve been used to, to frustrate the living hell out of you. We are terribly under served in terms of high speed internet. So good luck to those waiting. Some of us know better. My advise get Starlink kit than later. The demand will be unbearable when it comes officially. The surge in those buying the kits on ZiG will create a black market for USD Starlink kits. Watch the space, we don’t have a country. Its just a huge kraal of cattle
Thanks for the info it really saves you a lot will wait till it launches here
The issue of import licence not being mentioned …..joker right there. Authorised local distributor chilling waiting to flex🤣. Careful before buying online research on import requirements.
can you help me to install starlink