In a development that highlights Starlink’s overwhelming popularity in Zimbabwe, TelOne, one of Zimbabwe’s authorised Starlink resellers, has reached its subscription capacity in Harare and can no longer onboard new customers. This situation, which came to a head on Friday, underscores the growing challenges of Starlink’s urban deployment in Africa.

The Urban Rush for Starlink

Since its September launch in Zimbabwe, Starlink has experienced unprecedented demand, particularly in urban areas. The satellite internet service, initially designed for rural connectivity in developed nations, has found an unexpected but enthusiastic market among Zimbabwe’s urban dwellers. This popularity stems from its competitive pricing and superior speeds compared to traditional internet service providers.

Starlink currently offers two main packages in Zimbabwe:

Residential Package: US$50 per month for speeds up to 200Mbps
Residential Lite Package: US$30 per month for speeds up to 100Mbps

Technical Limitations in Urban Areas

The current situation reveals a fundamental challenge in Starlink’s urban deployment. While the service was engineered for sparsely populated rural regions, Zimbabwe’s urban centres, particularly Harare, present a different demographic challenge. The dense population in these areas has led to capacity constraints, as each passing Starlink satellite can only support a limited number of concurrent users.

This limitation became apparent within weeks of Starlink’s launch, when users began reporting degraded speeds. In response, Starlink implemented restrictions on new individual subscriptions, directing potential customers to authorised resellers for business packages.

The Reseller Situation

Zimbabwe currently has two authorised Starlink resellers:

TelOne
Aura

These resellers have enjoyed privileged access to Starlink’s backend systems, allowing them to continue adding new users despite the restrictions on individual signups. However, this arrangement has now reached its limits, at least for TelOne in Harare.

Impact of Roaming Restrictions

The capacity issues have been exacerbated by Starlink’s enforcement of its 60-day roaming policy. Many Zimbabweans who had been using foreign-registered Starlink kits found their services restricted after the 60-day period, leading to a surge in requests for legitimate local subscriptions through authorised resellers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I still get Starlink in Harare?
A: Through TelOne, new subscriptions are currently unavailable. Aura may still have capacity, though this remains to be confirmed.

Q: What happens if my foreign-registered kit is restricted?
A: You will need to wait for new capacity to become available or explore other internet service providers.

Q: Will capacity increase in the future?
A: Elon Musk has indicated that Starlink is working to expand capacity for African cities, though no specific timeline has been provided.

Q: Are rural areas affected by these restrictions?
A: Rural areas typically have more available capacity due to lower population density.

While Starlink has demonstrated its ability to deliver affordable, high-speed internet, the current situation highlights the challenges of scaling satellite internet services in densely populated urban areas.For potential customers and those affected by roaming restrictions, the options are currently limited. However, Starlink has indicated it is working on expanding capacity for African cities, though specific timelines remain unclear.

For the latest updates on Starlink availability and payment options in Zimbabwe, readers can refer to our comprehensive guide on how to pay for Starlink in Zimbabwe. Additionally, those interested in the wider impact of Starlink’s availability should read about how Starlink has sold out in other urban areas like Bulawayo.