Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital city, has joined five Nigerian cities in experiencing a complete sell-out of Starlink internet terminals, a remarkable achievement for Elon Musk’s SpaceX venture, less than two months after receiving operational approval in the country.
This surge in demand has left many Zimbabweans scrambling for alternatives, while local internet providers are responding with price cuts to retain their customer base. The Nigerian cities experiencing the same high demand include Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Warri.
The speed at which Starlink terminals vanished from the market in both countries is unprecedented. The high-speed internet service, beamed down from a constellation of over 5,500 satellites, has proven incredibly popular. The Starlink website now displays a “Sold Out” message for Harare and numerous surrounding areas in Zimbabwe, effectively halting new orders.
This unexpected demand has significantly impacted the local market in Zimbabwe. A previously thriving street market, known for reselling Starlink kits at inflated prices, has completely collapsed. Consumers are now ordering directly from Starlink’s website, cutting out the middleman and accessing the service at its official price. This direct-to-consumer approach is a testament to the popularity and reliability of Starlink’s offering.
The capacity constraints have escalated gradually. Initially, only high-density areas like Mbare and Highfields in Harare were affected. The “Sold Out” status then spread across the entire city, with initial projections suggesting expansion by the third quarter of 2024.
These projections were later revised to 2025, before the current “Sold Out” designation, which appears to be indefinite, was implemented. The change is significant, as Starlink previously accepted deposits from users willing to wait for service. The cessation of deposit acceptance strongly suggests a more severe capacity limitation than previously anticipated.
The areas now marked as “Sold Out” extend far beyond Harare’s city limits, encompassing a wide swathe of surrounding districts. For residents in these areas, the message is clear: Starlink Residential is unavailable, and there is no immediate prospect of service. The website instead directs users to register for email updates regarding future availability or to explore Starlink Roam, a mobile offering, if available in their region. The full list of affected areas is:
- Arcturus
- Chitungwiza
- Concession (parts of it)
- Dema
- Epworth
- Glendale (parts)
- Goromonzi
- Harare
- Juru
- Manhenga
- Mazowe
- Melfort
- Norton
- Nyabira
- Ruwa
This situation has not gone unnoticed by government officials. Ndavaningi Mangwana, Permanent Secretary of the Information and Publicity ministry, took to Twitter to comment on the situation, stating: “So Starlink is making more money from Zimbabweans than any other group of Africans? Surely prosperity yakauya navaMnangagwa😁”
This tweet was a response to Pastor Tom, who had earlier observed: “Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, is the first Zimbabwean city to max out Starlink. Starlink said Zimbabwe has been the biggest cash cow on launch in Africa despite being smaller than other countries like Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique etc. At this point, starlink is Sold Out in Harare. 🙌”
The overwhelming success of Starlink in Zimbabwe has forced local internet service providers to react. In a bid to retain customers and compete with the newcomer, several providers are implementing price reductions. This competitive pressure is a direct consequence of Starlink’s disruptive entry into the market.
For those residing in the affected areas, the immediate outlook is uncertain. While Starlink encourages registration for updates, promising eventual service availability, likely in 2025, the reality is that alternative internet solutions must be sought in the interim.
Econet’s SmartBiz and services from Liquid, Utande, TelOne, and Telco are among the options currently available, though their suitability will vary depending on location and individual needs.
The situation highlights both the immense demand for reliable high-speed internet in Zimbabwe and the challenges of scaling a satellite-based broadband service to meet that demand. The rapid sell-out in Harare underscores the transformative potential of Starlink, even as it leaves many Zimbabweans temporarily without access to its services.
