Zimbabwe’s excitement over Starlink's arrival has quickly turned into frustration for many users. Since its official launch in September, the satellite internet service has been the talk of the town, promising fast and reliable internet connectivity, especially in areas with limited infrastructure. However, just a week after its debut, Starlink stopped taking new orders for their residential package in Harare, leaving users scrambling.
The root of the issue? Capacity. Starlink has reached its maximum capacity for residential plans in Harare, and until further expansion, no more orders will be accepted. For those who had hoped to switch from the regional roaming package—an option that was commonly used before Starlink was officially authorized in Zimbabwe—the roadblock has been a costly one.
The Costly Reality for Roaming Users
Before Starlink became legal in Zimbabwe, a number of early adopters imported the devices from neighboring countries, running them on the roaming plan at a hefty $100 USD per month. With the local launch, many were eager to switch to the more affordable residential packages, which cost between $30 and $50 USD per month. However, due to capacity constraints, these users are now stuck on the roaming plan, continuing to pay double or more for the same service.
"I was ready to downgrade the minute Starlink went live in Zimbabwe," says one user, "but they hit capacity almost immediately. Now, I'm paying $100 a month while others are getting the same service for half that. It's frustrating."
No Solution in Sight
The worst part? There's no clear timeline for when Starlink will increase capacity. One Zimbabwean user, attempting to convert his plan from roaming to residential, received this response from Starlink support:
“After taking a look into the service address that you are trying to use for a new Residential service plan, it is currently at capacity, and you are not able to activate your Dish with this service plan type at this moment. Unfortunately, there is no preorder deposit waitlist process for existing hardware."
The email further explained that while new customers can place deposits for future residential service, those with existing hardware, like many in Zimbabwe, will have to wait until more capacity is made available.
Waiting Game or a Pricey Stay?
This leaves many Zimbabweans in a tough spot. Without a waitlist or any form of reservation for those wanting to downgrade, the only option is to stay on the expensive roaming plan until Starlink expands its network. The satellite internet provider has yet to announce when or how it plans to address the capacity issue, leaving users in a financial bind.
For a country where internet affordability is a crucial factor, this roadblock is a significant blow. As Zimbabwe continues to push towards better connectivity, especially in rural areas, services like Starlink are seen as game changers. But with a stalled rollout and no immediate capacity increase in sight, some are left wondering how long they’ll be paying premium prices for what should have been a more affordable service.
Other countries have faced similar Starlink capacity issues in the past. In regions like the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany, Starlink users also experienced network congestion as the service reached capacity shortly after launching. For instance, parts of the U.S. and Canada saw new sign-ups paused and users stuck on higher-cost plans, similar to Zimbabwe’s situation. Starlink has typically resolved these issues by launching more satellites, expanding capacity in affected regions within 6-12 months. While it’s unclear when Zimbabwe will see this expansion, previous cases suggest it may take some time before capacity is added and more affordable plans become available.
Until Starlink allocates more bandwidth, it seems Zimbabwean users will have to endure this expensive waiting game.
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