The Zimbabwean telecommunications landscape has experienced notable shifts especially last year when Starlink officially entered the ring. While the introduction of Starlink garnered significant attention, another development has been quietly unfolding: the emergence of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). Among these, Tagtel Communications has positioned itself as a popular contender especially among those with a very tight budget.

Understanding MVNOs

An MVNO, or Mobile Virtual Network Operator, is a company that provides mobile services without owning the underlying network infrastructure. Instead, MVNOs lease capacity from established Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) like Econet, NetOne, or Telecel. This model allows MVNOs to offer competitive services without the substantial capital investment required to build and maintain a network.

Tagtel’s Journey

Tagtel’s roots trace back to Pecus Enterprises, which secured an Internet Access Provider (IAP) licence from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) in the early 2010s. Despite initial delays, the company rebranded as Tagtel Communications and began laying the groundwork for its services. By 2023, Tagtel had officially launched, aiming to provide affordable and reliable internet solutions to Zimbabweans.

Current Offerings

Tagtel’s flagship product is its unlimited data plan, priced at US$10 per month. This plan, currently in a promotional phase, offers users access to data services without a predefined cap. However, it is essential to note that “unlimited” in this context comes with certain caveats.

User experiences vary,while we have seen those selling Tagtel lines on social media promise users speeds of up to 30Mbps this is not backed by facts on the ground. We have never seen anyone getting these speeds in reality with the majority of users gettting average speeds closer to 1 Mbps. These discrepancies can be attributed to network congestion, signal strength, and the ongoing trial nature of Tagtel’s services. The promotional pricing aims to attract a user base for testing and feedback, with the understanding that prices may adjust upon full commercial rollout.

Comparative Landscape: Dolphin Telecoms

Another MVNO making strides in Zimbabwe is Dolphin Telecoms. Unlike Tagtel, Dolphin has secured a full MVNO licence from POTRAZ, allowing for more extensive service offerings. Their unlimited data plan is priced at US$55 per month and includes a free router, higher average speeds (up to 30 Mbps), and no geographical restrictions. This positions Dolphin as a premium alternative for users seeking more consistent performance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the difference between an MVNO and an MNO? A: An MNO owns and operates its network infrastructure, while an MVNO leases capacity from MNOs to offer services.

Q: Is Tagtel’s US$10 plan truly unlimited? A: While marketed as unlimited, users may experience reduced speeds after consuming a certain amount of data, especially during peak times.

Q: Can I use Tagtel’s SIM card anywhere in Zimbabwe? A: Tagtel’s SIM cards are not geo-locked, allowing usage across various regions, though network performance may vary based on location.

Q: How does Dolphin Telecoms compare to Tagtel? A: Dolphin offers higher-priced plans with potentially better speeds and additional perks like a free router, catering to users with higher data demands.

Conclusion

While Tagtel might entice you with their very low prices of US$10 per month speeds generally hover around 1 Mbps which if we are being frank kind of seems fair given the very low price compared to the competition. At these speeds you will be restricted to less than 100GB per month. Most people probably cannot even use more than 50GB. it’s like saying you can eat as much sugar as you want but you have to pick individual grains of it from the sack using a needle. This sounds harsh but true. Unless you don’t care about the experience you are going to get, Tagtel is not for you. If you just want to chat on WhatsApp and wait ages for Facebook to load as long as you get a bargain then by all means you can buy Tagtel and use it for the duration of this trialing phase just don’t expect to get your mind blown like those shameless lying adverts on social media will have you believe. 90% of the time you will be getting speeds lower than 1 Mbps which is similar to what we used to get with ZOL on their Wimax.