Powertel Reduces Prices to Compete with Starlink in Zimbabwe’s Internet Market

In a bid to stay competitive with global satellite internet giant Starlink, Zimbabwe’s Powertel Communications has announced a price reduction for its unlimited home internet package to $30, directly matching Starlink’s entry-level pric

ing. This strategic move comes amid increasing competition, especially following

Starlink’s entry into the Zimbabwean market. This comes barely a week after Telone became an authorised Starlink reseller. The competition is getting heated and more changes are expected in this space.

Powertel’s acting managing director, Willard Nyagwande, confidently asserted that Powertel’s service can not only match Starlink in affordability but also surpass it in speed. While Starlink’s speeds reach up to 250 Mbps, Powertel claims its fibre optic network can deliver speeds as high as 1 Gbps. Powertel’s diverse technology infrastructure, which includes fibre optics, 5G wireless, and satellite services, gives it a unique edge, particularly with its use of existing Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) pylons for wide-scale connectivity across urban and rural areas​

Moreover, Powertel is heavily investing in its infrastructure, with a $10 million allocation to improve service quality and network reliability. The company has also rolled out a 200km ZESA-Powertel line, reinforcing its commitment to serving both the corporate and retail markets​(

This development underscores a growing price war in the Zimbabwean internet service market, as local players like Powertel and Econet Wireless seek to offer affordable, high-speed internet services in response to Starlink’s arrival​.