In a move that has sent ripples through Zimbabwe’s telecommunications landscape, state-owned internet provider TelOne has announced its official status as a Starlink Authorised Reseller.
This partnership with the global satellite internet provider, known for its high-speed, low-latency service, marks a significant shift in TelOne’s strategy, particularly in the face of Starlink’s growing popularity in Zimbabwe.
The announcement comes just days after Aura, another local internet service provider, also declared itself a Starlink reseller. Frampol Zimbabwe and Utande are some of the prominent Zimbabwean Internet Service Providers that have also joined the bandwagon of partnering with Starlink in Zimbabwe.
This frenzy of activity highlights the growing interest in Starlink’s services, which offer a compelling alternative to traditional internet providers, especially in remote areas.
TelOne’s decision to become a reseller is seen by some as a strategic move to tap into the growing demand for Starlink’s services, while others view it as a concession to the global giant’s superior technology. Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite service delivers download and upload speeds of up to 200mb, outpacing TelOne’s current offerings.
“This exciting development expands our range of services that enable us to better serve you with modern and efficient connectivity solutions,” TelOne stated in a press release.
TelOne’s move is particularly significant given its vast distribution capacity, which it can leverage to reach a wider audience. This is crucial for a service like Starlink, which is rapidly gaining popularity in Zimbabwe. TelOne can also draw on the resources of other government-owned companies, such as NetOne and Zimpost, to further expand its reach.
The Starlink kits, priced at a reasonable US$200, are significantly cheaper than local ISPs, even after factoring in the monthly subscription fee of US$30 for unlimited internet access. This affordability makes Starlink an attractive option for many Zimbabweans, particularly those living in remote areas where traditional internet services are limited or non-existent.
However, the announcement has not been met with universal acclaim. Some Zimbabweans have ridiculed TelOne’s decision, viewing it as a sign of weakness in the face of Starlink’s dominance.
Award-winning investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, commenting on Twitter, expressed this sentiment: “I have seen the TelOne-Starlink announcement which TelOne posted today, and many Zimbabweans have ridiculed TelOne, turning it into the butt of today’s jokes.”
Despite the initial criticism, experts believe that TelOne’s partnership with Starlink is a positive development for both the company and Zimbabwean consumers.
“The arrangement TelOne has entered into with Starlink is quite standard in many countries where Starlink operates from. As I mentioned months ago in this platform, Starlink is not intended to be a competitor but rather a complement to local fibre internet services like Liquid and TelOne,” Chin’ono explained.
Starlink’s technology, while offering high-speed internet, is not designed to compete with fibre networks in densely populated areas. The limited bandwidth of its satellite constellation, coupled with the need to share capacity among users within a specific coverage area, makes it more suitable for remote areas.
“Starlink does not have the capacity to provide internet services in the same way that fibre internet does in cities and densely populated areas. Starlink’s limited capacity, compared to fibre, is due to the nature of its technology and infrastructure. It faces bandwidth constraints because it relies on a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide connectivity,” Chin’ono stated.
This limitation is evident in the fact that Starlink’s website currently shows that most high-density suburbs in Harare are fully subscribed. Residents in areas such as Highfield, Glen Norah, Budiriro, Mbare, etc, can no longer buy Starlink kits as the website reports that those areas are now fully subscribed. One can only join the waiting list indefinitely.
Therefore, local ISPs should not view Starlink as a fierce competitor, but rather as a potential partner. By providing internet access to remote and underserved areas, Starlink can drive more traffic to the networks of fixed fibre providers in urban areas, ultimately benefiting both parties.
“In normal countries, the major networks are actually making more money by selling Starlink kits, as TelOne intends to do, because they do not view it as a competitor. By providing internet access to remote and underserved areas such as Murewa, Bocha, Nkayi, and similar rural outposts, Starlink will, in fact, drive more traffic to the networks of fixed fibre providers in urban areas, ultimately benefiting both parties,” Chin’ono explained.
The partnership between TelOne and Starlink presents a unique opportunity to bridge the digital divide in Zimbabwe. It offers affordable and reliable internet access to previously underserved communities, fostering economic growth and social development. However, the success of this partnership hinges on the ability of TelOne to overcome the initial skepticism and leverage its resources to effectively distribute Starlink’s services across the country.
The move by TelOne to become a Starlink reseller comes after the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) issued a directive banning the sale of Starlink User Terminals (kits) by telecoms service providers and ordinary dealers without a license. This move, which followed the government’s recent licensing of Starlink to operate in Zimbabwe, aims to regulate the market and ensure that all players adhere to the country’s telecommunications regulations.
“It is a condition of the Starlink licences that such agencies, dealers and ISPs shall be subject to clearance by POTRAZ. This condition applies to both existing and prospective ISPs and Network Operators. The sale or distribution of Starlink User Terminals without appropriate licensing and clearance is, therefore, an offence punishable by law,” stated POTRAZ Director General Gift Kallisto Machengete.
This regulatory framework underscores the importance of a collaborative approach between local ISPs and Starlink to ensure a sustainable and beneficial internet ecosystem for all Zimbabweans.
