Starlink Launches in Zimbabwe

Harare, Zimbabwe – SpaceX’s high-speed satellite internet service, Starlink, has officially launched in Zimbabwe, marking the 14th African country to gain access to the innovative technology.

Zimbabwean subscribers can now purchase the regular Starlink dish and router for $350, while the more portable Mini dish is available for $200. This is significantly cheaper than in the United States, where the Mini dish is priced at $599.

The service has already gained popularity in neighboring countries like Botswana, South Sudan, and Sierra Leone, and it is expected to be equally successful in Zimbabwe.

While Starlink is now available in four of South Africa’s six neighboring countries, the country itself remains without the service. The estimated launch date for Lesotho is in the third quarter of 2024, while Namibia’s launch could happen before the end of the year.

South Africa’s Starlink rollout has been delayed due to regulatory hurdles, including the country’s ownership rules for telecoms licensees. SpaceX prefers to offer its services directly to customers, which conflicts with South Africa’s existing licensing requirements.

Despite the lack of official support, many South Africans have been using Starlink’s roaming service. However, recent changes to the roaming policy have made it more challenging for users to continue accessing the service. Starlink now limits continuous roaming to 60 days, requiring users to return to their country of registration every two months.

To circumvent this limitation, some South Africans are importing their Starlink kits from neighboring countries and visiting those countries periodically. This can be done through unofficial services like IcasaSePush, which offers assistance with the process.

The table below shows the regular and regional roaming prices for Starlink subscriptions in South Africa’s neighboring countries:

The table below shows the regular and regional roaming prices of Starlink subscriptions in South Africa’s neighbouring countries.