Zimbabwean telecommunications firm, Powertel Communications, has thrown down the gauntlet to global satellite internet giant, Starlink, claiming superior speed and affordability.
The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and a Class ‘A’ Internet Access Provider licensed by POTRAZ, boasts speeds exceeding those offered by Starlink, while matching its entry-level pricing.
Powertel’s acting managing director, Willard Nyagwande, made the bold assertions during a recent connectivity products briefing in Harare. He highlighted a significant US$10 million investment aimed at enhancing Powertel’s service and solidifying its competitive edge.
Nyagwande directly challenged Starlink’s advertised speeds and said their network speed is up to four times faster than Starlink’s speeds.
“The speed for Starlink goes up to 250 Mbps; it’s not a secret, ours can go up to Gigabit per second,” he stated.
He further emphasised the reliability of Powertel’s infrastructure: “Why would you invest in other technologies that are not all-weather friendly? I want you to be loyal to the most dependable technologies.”
Powertel leverages a diverse technological infrastructure, including satellite, LEO, LTE, 5G wireless radio technology, and its primary technology – fibre optic cables utilising existing ZESA pylons across Zimbabwe. This extensive network, Nyagwande explained, underpins the company’s strategy of providing universal access to both data and electricity.
“Our clientele is the corporate world, the retail market and our drive called urban and rural datafication. I want Zimbabweans to understand that our strategy is to give universal access to data as well as electricity,” he said.
The company’s confidence stems from its substantial investment in infrastructure development. Six months ago, Powertel announced its pursuit of both domestic and foreign partners to implement a new optical ground wire (OPGW) project, significantly boosting internet connectivity.
This is further evidenced by a recent US$5.5 million investment in a dual gateway between Zimbabwe and South Africa via Beitbridge, designed to enhance network redundancy and affordability.
“This year, we have invested more than US$5.5 million in building another gateway, a dual gateway into South Africa through Beitbridge in trying to embrace our redundancy [in case] Mozambique, Beitbridge or Plumtree are down. As you know, in Zimbabwe, internet is very affordable through Beitbridge, so we have invested more than US$5.5 million and that link is almost done,” Nyagwande explained.
This investment is part of a larger plan outlined in Powertel’s network investment roadmap, allocating up to US$355 million to fixed access and over US$50 million to LTE, 5G, and the national backbone network. An additional US$2 million has been invested in acquiring its own technologies, rather than relying on borrowed solutions.
“In terms of investment, remember our brand is 25 years old. We have continued to invest in fibre technology, wireless technology and geo technology,” Nyagwande added.
Powertel operates an extensive network comprising an optic fibre backbone network, an optic fibre distribution network, and optic fibre and wireless access networks. This infrastructure allows for blazing-fast internet speeds of up to 1 Gbps, significantly faster than Starlink’s advertised maximum of 250 Mbps.
Technology experts generally agree that fibre internet offers superior speed and lower costs compared to satellite internet, although fibre availability is more limited geographically. Fibre internet, delivered via cables, utilises electricity to transmit data, resulting in its high-speed capabilities.
The company’s commitment to providing reliable, affordable internet is evident in its promotional materials. Powertel’s website boasts of “lightning fast and uninterrupted connectivity no matter what Mother Nature throws at you!”, highlighting the weather-dependent nature of satellite internet services like Starlink.
The company directly challenges Starlink’s pricing, offering an unlimited home internet package “from as little as $30,” mirroring Starlink’s entry-level offering. Another promotional phrase on the website reads: “Whether it is sunny days or cloudy days, whatever the weather, our hybrid connectivity solutions have your business reliably covered at the most affordable price”.
Furthermore, Powertel has already demonstrated its capacity for large-scale projects. Nyagwande revealed that 200km of ZESA and PowerTel lines have been connected to Bikita Minerals, addressing connectivity challenges within the mining sector. This initiative also involved millions of dollars invested to enable ZETDC to connect miners such as Dinson Iron and Steel Company and Bikita Minerals.
“We recently powered up Bikita Minerals and as we speak now, they are both electrified and ‘datafied’ by ZETDC and Powertel, enjoying speeds of more than 100 gigabites per second so that is our relationship. So, if we put that investment combined, it is a lot,” Nyagwande confirmed.
The entry of Starlink into the Zimbabwean market has ignited a price war, intensifying competition among internet service providers. Econet Wireless Zimbabwe (EWZ), the country’s largest mobile network operator, is also responding aggressively, currently conducting a closed beta test of unlimited data packages priced at $15, $23, and $30 per month for select subscribers. Upon completion of this trial, Econet plans to offer these competitively priced packages to the general public.
While Powertel highlights its strengths, the challenges faced by internet service providers in Zimbabwe, such as vandalism and accidental damage to infrastructure, remain a significant factor. For instance, this reporter experienced a week-long internet outage in Marondera in November 2014 while using Powertel, reportedly due to a severed cable caused by another ISP during trench digging. At the time, the lack of a local Powertel office made it difficult to obtain immediate information, with ZESA employees in Marondera providing the explanation.
