Econet Smart4U: The Mysterious Data Bundle

For over a year now, Econet subscribers in Zimbabwe have been sharing screenshots of a mysterious mobile data offer—an unlimited data bundle that appears to be given at random. Different users receive different pricing offers, and there has been no official announcement or advertisement about it from Econet.

At first, it seemed like just another rumor on social media, but by late 2024, more people started confirming that they had received the offer. Then in December 2024, I received an SMS with the same bundle offer. As someone who relies heavily on mobile data, I was excited—unlimited data meant no more running out of data unexpectedly or worrying about expensive top-ups.

How the SmartForYou Offer Works

My offer included: 

• Unlimited data for $23 or 575 ZIG (Econet used the official exchange rate for ZIG)
• 280 minutes of call airtime
• 320 SMS
• A 30-day validity period

I quickly subscribed, and after using it for a full month, I renewed it again in February. However, I noticed something strange—Econet had not posted anything about this bundle on their social media pages, website, or even in-store promotions. It was as if the bundle didn’t officially exist. 

No Public Information

The biggest mystery surrounding Smart4U is how Econet determines who qualifies for the offer. Unlike other bundles, there is no way to manually activate Smart4U unless you receive an SMS invite.

If you search on Econet’s Facebook or Twitter pages, you won’t find any mention of Smart4U. Even visiting their website doesn’t reveal much, the bundle is hidden unless you receive the offer via SMS.

Once you get the SMS, the Smart4U option appears under the data menu on USSD *143#. Here’s how you activate it: 

1. Dial *143#
2. Select the currency you want to use (USD or ZIG)
3. Choose "Data", then select "Smart4U"

If you don’t see Smart4U listed, your line has not been selected for the bundle.

Who Gets the Smart4U Bundle?

After investigating, I found that most users who receive the offer are people who frequently purchase monthly data bundles. If you only buy small WhatsApp, Facebook, or hourly bundles, you’re less likely to get this offer.

In my case, I used to buy around $20 worth of data per month, and Econet offered me Smart4U for $23. Other users have reported different pricing, including: 

• $10
• $30
• As high as $158

This suggests that Econet personalizes the offer based on your past data usage. If you’re a heavy data user, your Smart4U price might be higher than someone who uses less data. 

Better Speeds Compared to SmartBiz

One of the best things about Smart4U is the internet speed is not capped, unlike Econet’s SmartBiz bundle, which has a speed limit.

With Smart4U, I tested speeds and found that on 5G, I could get up to 50Mbps on a good day. 

I reached out to Econet for clarification, and their response was: 

"The 'Smart for You' bundle is our newly introduced package that includes data, voice minutes, and SMS. This offer is available on a personalized basis. Once you receive an offer and accept it, you'll be able to purchase the bundle. Please note that the offers may vary and are determined by your data usage, so each user will have a customized package they are eligible for."

They also confirmed that: 

• There is no way to check how much data you have left – since it’s unlimited
• The bundle is not available to everyone – only selected users receive an invite
• The offer is personalized, meaning different people get different prices

Fair Usage Policy – The Catch with Unlimited Data

While Smart4U is technically unlimited, Econet has put a Fair Usage Policy (FUP) in place. But here’s the problem: Econet hasn’t publicly explained what their fair usage limits are.

Fair usage policies are common in the telecom industry to prevent network abuse. Typically, they ensure that: 

• One person isn’t using excessive amounts of data at the expense of others
• People aren’t sharing the bundle with too many others via hotspot
• The network remains stable for all users

For example, if Econet detects that you are using way more data than a normal single user, they might throttle your speeds or even disconnect your access. This would likely happen if someone is hotspotting the bundle for an entire household or streaming 24/7. 

Why Hasn’t Econet Made Smart4U Public?

There are a few reasons why Econet might be keeping Smart4U under wraps: 

1. They are still testing it – Econet could be using Smart4U to experiment with personalized pricing models before a full rollout.
2. They don’t want everyone to switch to unlimited – If too many users switch, it could strain the network.
3. They are targeting high-value customers – By limiting it to people who already spend on data, Econet ensures they don’t lose revenue from low-cost bundle users.

Final Thoughts – Is Smart4U Worth It?

Overall, Smart4U is an excellent bundle, especially if you get a good price. Unlimited mobile data is the future, and it’s encouraging to see Econet offering something close to that.

However, the lack of transparency on eligibility, balance checking, and fair usage limits makes it difficult for users to plan their data usage properly. Econet should consider making Smart4U available to more people and publishing clear guidelines on how it works.

If you’re lucky enough to receive the offer, it’s definitely worth taking—just be mindful of how you use it to avoid any unexpected restrictions.