In a significant move that’s set to irk some of its customers, it seems Econet recently adjusted the speed of its popular SmartBiz data bundles to align with their advertised speeds. This development comes at a crucial time when the country’s telecommunications sector is experiencing rapid changes, particularly with the recent entry of Starlink into the market.

The SmartBiz Speed Adjustment

Although there are 3 SmartBiz packages the cheapest and most popular one is the SmartBiz 5 bundle. People have been signing up in droves because it requires an upfront commitment of just US$45. Prior to last week Econet was not even enforcing speed limits on the bundle either. You could just pay US$45 and get speeds as high as 100 Mbps. This was unheard of back then but now with Starlink now selling Residential Lite packages for US$30 with speeds of up to 100Mbps many people were kind of expecting Econet not to change this. But late last week, several users on the SmartBiz 5 package shared screenshots of their speed tests with us. These images clearly demonstrate that users are now unable to achieve speeds exceeding 5 Mbps on their SmartBiz packages. In all cases, the speeds were either exactly 5 Mbps or marginally below this threshold.

This adjustment appears to be Econet’s response to ensuring that the actual service delivery matches the advertised specifications. According to their terms of service, the popular Econet SmartBiz 5 bundle is supposed to provide users with 5 Mbps of unlimited data. However, it’s worth noting that there is reportedly a soft cap of 1 TB implemented behind the scenes.

Understanding the 1 TB Soft Cap

The concept of a soft data cap is not unique to Econet. Most internet service providers implement some form of behind-the-scenes limit on data consumption. If a user exceeds this limit, they are typically placed into a ‘best efforts’ pool. This doesn’t mean their internet access is cut off, but they are likely to experience significantly reduced speeds.

In the case of SmartBiz 5, if a user surpasses the 1 TB threshold, their speeds may no longer be guaranteed to reach 5 Mbps. It’s important to understand that reaching this cap would require consistent, heavy usage. At a constant speed of 5 Mbps, it would take approximately 19.42 days of non-stop data transfer to reach 1 TB.

Econet’s Response

We reached out to Econet executives for comment when we first learned of these changes. As of now, they have not responded to our messages. We will update this article if they provide any statement in the future. It’s possible that they are currently preoccupied, given the tumultuous week in Zimbabwe’s internet world following Starlink’s entry into the market a week ago.

The Popularity of SmartBiz 5

Econet’s SmartBiz 5 package has quickly become their most popular offering. This popularity can be attributed to several factors:

Affordability: In a country where many households are operating on tight budgets, the SmartBiz 5 package offers a balance between cost and performance.
Sufficient Speed: For most households, 5 Mbps is adequate for everyday internet activities such as browsing, social media usage, and even streaming in standard definition.
Unlimited Data: The removal of data caps allows users to use the internet without constantly monitoring their usage.
Competitive Pricing: At US$45 per month, it’s positioned as an attractive alternative to more expensive options.

Comparison with Starlink

The timing of Econet’s price adjustment is noteworthy, coming shortly after Starlink’s entry into the Zimbabwean market. Starlink’s US$50 and US$30 packages have garnered significant attention due to their competitive pricing and promised high speeds.

Here’s a brief comparison:

Econet SmartBiz 5: US$45/month, 5 Mbps guaranteed speed, unlimited data with a 1 TB soft cap
Starlink Residential Lite: US$30/month, 20-100 Mbps expected speed, unlimited data (subject to fair use policy)
Starlink Residential: US$50/month, higher speeds and priority service compared to Lite

While Starlink offers higher speeds, Econet’s established infrastructure and immediate availability give it certain advantages in the short term.

The Broader Impact on Zimbabwe’s Internet Landscape

The recent developments in Zimbabwe’s internet service market, including Econet’s price adjustments and Starlink’s entry, are likely to have far-reaching effects:

Increased Competition: Other providers like NetOne and TelOne may need to revisit their pricing and service offerings to remain competitive.
Improved Accessibility: More affordable unlimited packages could lead to increased internet adoption across Zimbabwe.
Economic Impact: Better internet accessibility could boost various sectors of the economy, from education to e-commerce.
Consumer Choice: Zimbabweans now have more options when it comes to choosing an internet service provider, which could lead to better services overall.

Looking Ahead

As the situation continues to evolve, several questions remain:

Will Econet introduce new tiers or adjust existing ones to better compete with Starlink’s offerings? The company is flirting with an “Unlimited Bundle” but this has been restricted to selected customers
How will other established ISPs in Zimbabwe respond to these market changes?
Will the increased competition lead to infrastructure improvements across the board?

We at Zimpricecheck.com will continue to monitor these developments closely. For those interested in exploring alternative options, our recent articles on Starlink’s launch and service options provide additional context and information.

As Zimbabwe’s internet landscape continues to evolve, consumers stand to benefit from increased competition and improved services. We encourage our readers to stay informed about their options and choose the service that best fits their needs and budget.

Stay tuned to Zimpricecheck.com for the latest updates and analysis on Zimbabwe’s rapidly changing internet service market.