In what appears to be a direct response to Starlink’s arrival on the Zimbabwean market, Utande has introduced new pricing for its LTE and broadband fibre plans. These price reductions signal that even established ISPs can’t afford to sit idly by as Starlink continues to shake up the local internet landscape.
Utande’s new offerings still fall short of Starlink's affordability but offer much-needed relief to subscribers. The company has positioned its new plans as a way to deliver more value and savings, coupled with enhanced security features like free web and content filtering across all packages.
While Starlink’s satellite internet is rapidly becoming a household name in Zimbabwe, thanks to its lower costs and higher speeds, Utande is aiming to keep up by catering to users with a range of new plans for both LTE and fibre.
New Utande Plans: LTE
Utande’s LTE plans start at $49 per month and offer unlimited data across three speed tiers:
- Starter MAX: Up to 10 Mbps, $49, includes 20GB cloud storage, 60 minutes of Utalk airtime, and 1 Utalk line with 5 extensions.
- Super MAX: Up to 15 Mbps, $89, includes 50GB cloud storage, 90 minutes of Utalk airtime, and 1 Utalk line with 5 extensions.
- Mega MAX: Up to 20 Mbps, $120, includes 100GB cloud storage, 120 minutes of Utalk airtime, and 1 Utalk line with 10 extensions.
New Utande Plans: Broadband Fibre
For users seeking higher speeds, Utande’s broadband fibre plans provide unlimited data starting at $95 per month:
- Diamond Lite: Up to 20 Mbps, $95, unlimited data.
- Diamond Flow: Up to 30 Mbps, $145, unlimited data, 100GB cloud storage, 120 minutes of Utalk airtime, and 1 Utalk line with 10 extensions.
- Diamond Wave: Up to 50 Mbps, $250, unlimited data, 100GB cloud storage, 120 minutes of Utalk airtime, and 1 Utalk line with 10 extensions.
- Diamond Prime: Up to 100 Mbps, $330, unlimited data, 100GB cloud storage, 120 minutes of Utalk airtime, and 1 Utalk line with 10 extensions.
These revised pricing models reflect Utande’s strategy to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive market. While still priced higher than Starlink, the inclusion of value-adds like cloud storage and Utalk services suggests Utande is looking to differentiate itself by offering more comprehensive packages to attract a variety of users.
The Starlink Effect
Utande’s price drop comes at a time when Starlink’s presence in Zimbabwe is growing. Although Starlink’s service has faced congestion issues in Harare, the demand for faster, more affordable internet is forcing local ISPs to reconsider their pricing strategies. Utande’s move is a positive step, but with Starlink continuing to expand and disrupt traditional ISPs globally, it remains to be seen how much further the local competition can stretch to keep pace.
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