Great news for residents of Bulawayo! After being marked as ‘sold out’, Starlink is once again accepting new orders in the city. This means you can now access high-speed, low-latency internet directly from Starlink without resorting to alternative methods. Starlink had been marked as sold out since November last year when, after a few frenzied weeks of buying the service reached capacity in both Bulawayo and Harare.

Previously, those eager to join the Starlink network in areas marked as ‘sold out’ (areas where the network has reached capacity) often had to turn to business retailers. These retailers typically offer priority data packages, but at a premium, sometimes exceeding US$100 for just 1TB of data. Fortunately, Bulawayo residents can now circumvent this and order directly from the source.

To confirm the news, we placed a test order for a Bulawayo address, and it went through seamlessly. This offers a cost effective route for Bulawayo residents seeking to secure their Starlink kits. Unfortunately, this positive development does not extend to those in Harare, Chitungwiza, Ruwa, and surrounding areas, where Starlink remains marked as ‘sold out’. It is also worth remembering that Starlink often takes deposits of around US$50.

More Good News: Starlink Kits on Credit and Faster Delivery

If you are hesitant about placing an order, there are two more encouraging developments. Firstly, Starlink kits are now available on credit, making them more accessible than ever before. Secondly, delivery times have significantly improved. Where it once took DHL two weeks to deliver a kit, you can now expect it to arrive in as little as 48 hours.

Starlink Kit Instalments: A Game Changer

Earlier this year, we reported on Starlink’s introduction of instalment plans for their hardware, a move that has proven immensely popular. This option is currently available for the Starlink Mini, offering a more affordable entry point to the Starlink ecosystem.

When ordering the Starlink Mini, you are presented with three options:

1. Outright Purchase: Pay US$223 upfront, covering the US$200 cost of the Mini Kit and a US$23 handling fee.
2. Six-Month Instalment Plan: Pay US$25 per month for the hardware, in addition to your chosen service plan: either US$30 for Residential Lite (totaling US$55 per month) or US$50 for Residential (totaling US$75 per month).
3. Nine-Month Instalment Plan: Pay US$16.67 per month for the hardware, with the same service plan options as above.

Regardless of the plan you select, an initial payment of US$73 is required to begin the service.

This strategy is likely to cause local ISPs to lose even more customers to Starlink. The introduction of a payment plan almost makes Starlink the most affordable ISP. Selecting the Residential Lite package at US$30 per month, and selecting the nine month hardware payment plan makes the total US$46.67.

How to Order Starlink in Bulawayo

To order your Starlink Kit, visit the official Starlink website, www.starlink.com.

1. Enter Your Address: Input your Bulawayo address to check availability and ensure you are within a serviceable area.
2. Choose Your Package:Select your desired package.
   • Residential Lite for US$30 per month
   • Residential for US$50 per month
   • Residential Lite plus Kit in Instalments – Select this if you desire the Residential Lite plan and wish to pay for the hardware over a number of months.
   • Residential with Kit in Instalments.
3. Select Your Hardware Payment Plan: If opting for the instalment plan, choose either nine months at US$16.67 per month, or six months at US$25 per month.
4. Make a Payment: Starlink accepts payments via Omari, Ecocash MasterCard, or your preferred Visa or MasterCard.

How to Buy Starlink in Zimbabwe (Cash and Credit)

Buying from starlink.com

• First, get your payment method sorted

The first thing to do when you want to buy online is to get your payment method sorted. Since you’re will pay online, your money needs to be in a prepaid Matsercard or Visa.

Virtual Debit Card

You can get a virtual Mastercard account on EcoCash using the EcoCash app or USSD *153# (Wallet Services, EcoCash Debit Card, EcoCash Mastercard Virtual…)

If you’re on O’Mari, you can get a Virtual Visa card through a similar process (Dial *707#, Select Card Services, Select Request Virtual Visa Card…).

When you pay online, money will be deducted from your EcoCash or O’Mari balance.

Physical Prepaid debit card

You can also get your physical prepaid debit card, you will need to visit the bank branch and deposit your cash into the new card. (you only need an ID to get such a card and the process takes less than 15 minutes in total).

Important Note: Whatever means you are going to use to pay, remember to deposit more than the actual amount Starlink charges because the will be bank fees and taxes by the Zimbabwe government. Deposit about 20% more than you intend to use – e.g. to pay $73, deposit $88.

Option 1: Installment Plan

1. Visit www.starlink.com and click on “order now“
2. Enter your address (e.g., ‘Senga Area 2, Gweru’). Starlink will list addresses as you type. Select one of those. If yours is not listed then click on the location icon and your browser will use your current location as the address
3. Select your preferred package if you wan to buy the Kit in installments select the options that say:
   • Residential Lite plus Kit in Installments
   • Residential with Kit in Installments
4. Choose your hardware payment plan:
   • 9 months at $16.67 per month
   • 6 months at $25 per month
5. Proceed to checkout. You will see the total payable amount of $73 ($50 deposit + $23 delivery fee)
6. Complete payment using the card or virtual card you obtained above (EcoCash, O’Mari or any Visa or MasterCard)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I ask my relative in the diaspora to pay for me?

Yes. The order can be paid for by your diaspora relative using their credit card, and the Starlink Kit delivered in Zimbabwe. Remember to make it clear to them to enter the correct “Service Address”. it should be the address where the Starlink Kit will be used and not your relative’s address.

If I buy online, how long does it take to deliver?

3 to 4 weeks

When I enter my address it says “Starlink is at capacity in your area….”

Starlink is sold out in Harare, surrounding towns (Ruwa, Norton, Chitungwiza, Marondera, Bindura, Mvurwi, Banket, Murewa, Selous, Wedza…) and also parts of Bulawayo. You cannot buy Starlink in these areas until the company has added their capacity and opened for new customers. We know its frustrating but that’s just how things are at the moment.

if I’m in a sold out area, can I buy from local resellerst?

Yes. Every now and again, Starlink adds capacity for the business packages even in the sold out areas. You will be paying for a business kit.

After I buy, who will install for me?

Installing Starlink is not hard at all. Generally, someone that has installed DStv satellite dishes can install Starlink. However, if you need help, we have compiled a list of Starlink Installers in Zimbabwe. Open it on this link:

This resurgence of Starlink availability in Bulawayo, coupled with the introduction of instalment plans and faster delivery times, is a welcome development for those seeking reliable, high-speed internet. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available. Keep visiting Zimpricecheck.com for the latest news and information.