You read that right. You can now acquire the Starlink kit through a convenient instalment plan. We noted this exciting development today while trying to purchase a Starlink Kit for a friend. This is an offer coming directly from Starlink themselves, not a third party or local Zimbabwean microfinance institution. This offer appears to be exclusive to the Starlink Mini, and not the standard kit.

When placing an order for the Starlink Mini, you are presented with these options:

1. Outright Purchase: Pay US$223 upfront. This comprises 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 (making a total of US$55 per month), or US$50 for Residential (totalling US$75 per month).
3. Nine-Month Instalment Plan: Pay US$16.67 per month for the hardware, with the usual US$30 for Residential Lite or US$50 for Residential service packages.

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

This is Significant News

This represents a rather clever strategy by Starlink. Their internet packages at US$30 and US$50 are already highly competitive within Zimbabwe, so much so that areas like Harare and Bulawayo are currently sold out. The availability of the kit is currently limited to rural areas and smaller towns. A major obstacle for those in these locations has been the initial hardware expense. By introducing this instalment plan, Starlink is likely to experience a further upsurge in sales. Remove the initial hardware cost and they become the most affordable internet service provider in Zimbabwe.

If you select the most budget-friendly Residential Lite package, which is priced at US$30 per month, and opt for the nine-month hardware payment plan, your total monthly expenditure would be US$46.67. This compares favourably to Econet’s SmartBiz package, which costs US$45 per month for a modest 5 Mbps, whilst Starlink’s Residential Lite package offers speeds of up to 100 Mbps.

Another Potential Shift in the Market

This is set to cause another wave of customer defections as local internet service providers (ISPs) risk losing more subscribers to Starlink, now even more of an attractive prospect. After being caught off guard last year by Starlink’s innovations and affordable prices and high speed offerings, local ISPs may have thought the worst was over. This new offering is almost certain to make further inroads into their revenue.

Many rural customers do not have substantial disposable income. Now that Starlink’s costs are comparable to offerings such as DSTV Compact Plus, they will almost certainly be evaluating their options. Liquid Home, one of the most proactive players in the market, is potentially best prepared for this shift. Earlier this year they introduced Gigabit Fibre internet by offering customers a free speed upgrade without raising prices.

How to Order Your Starlink Kit on Credit

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

1. Enter your address, for example, ‘Chivhu Shopping Centre.’ Bear in mind that Starlink is currently sold out in Harare and Bulawayo, so orders cannot be placed for those areas at the moment.
2. Once you have selected your location, choose your desired package. There are four options:
   • 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. Next, pick your preferred hardware payment plan, selecting either nine months at US$16.67 per month, or six months at US$25 per month.
4. Make a payment. You can pay for Starlink using Omari, Ecocash MasterCard or your preferred Visa or MasterCard

This new payment option from Starlink is sure to be popular and may further disrupt the internet service market in Zimbabwe. This is a development we will be monitoring closely, so keep visiting Zimpricecheck.com for more updates.