29 May 2024

Starlink will provide Zimbabweans with high-speed internet services using its low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. The company plans to launch its services from the third quarter of 2024 if it obtains the necessary authorizations. Prices for the service for Zimbabwe are not yet available.

President Mnangagwa believes that the advent of Starlink will improve access to affordable broadband internet across Zimbabwe, particularly in rural areas. According to POTRAZ, Zimbabwe has 11 million Internet subscribers for a penetration rate of 73.3%. For its part, the DataReportal data platform has identified 5.5 million Internet subscribers in the country with a penetration rate of 32.6%.

“Innovation, science and technology constitute one of the strategic pillars of the development agenda of the Second Republic under Vision 2030. The priority given to the digital economy and the emerging importance of technology in our daily activities require government to take the lead in creating an enabling environment for investment in technology,” said president Mnangagwa.