Business platform Econet SmartBiz surpasses 100,000 user count
In the dynamic mobile data market of Zimbabwe, Econet's SmartBiz unlimited mobile internet service has emerged as a popular choice for small businesses, schools, and remote workers. However, its growth has been met with challenges, primarily related to bandwidth constraints and the enforcement of a Fair Usage Policy (FUP).
SmartBiz, introduced as an affordable, tailored mobile internet solution in June 2024, promised "unlimited" data at a fixed price of around US$45. Despite being marketed as such, Econet has had to impose and enforce a FUP to prevent excessive data consumption and misuse. This was necessary due to Zimbabwe's mobile networks importing bandwidth using limited foreign currency.
The enforcement of this FUP and the recent reduction of the data cap from 1TB to 200GB have caused some backlash and discontent among customers who expected unlimited access. However, the service continues to grow, now boasting approximately 100,000 customers.
Meanwhile, Starlink's satellite internet service, launched in September, is viewed as a game changer by some in Zimbabwe. It offers high-speed satellite internet, particularly beneficial in remote or underserved areas where mobile networks are less reliable. However, its service has not seen the same scale of uptake or controversy reported in the case of SmartBiz.
Common challenges for satellite internet, including higher costs, equipment requirements, potential latency, and regulatory hurdles, likely apply to Starlink in Zimbabwe. These issues need further confirmation from additional sources.
| Aspect | Econet SmartBiz | Starlink Satellite Internet | |---------------------|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------------| | Service type | Mobile internet via cellular network | Satellite internet | | Target users | Small businesses, MSMEs, schools | Remote users, underserved regions | | Pricing | Approx. US$45/month (2025) | Generally higher; equipment costs | | Data policy | Unlimited with Fair Usage Policy (FUP) | No explicit FUP publicly noted | | Challenges faced | Bandwidth constraints, enforcing FUP, user backlash | Equipment cost, possible latency, unknown local regulatory issues | | Growth profile | Widely adopted, now managing usage to maintain QoS | Promising alternative, less scale data available |
In conclusion, Econet's SmartBiz service has achieved broad adoption in Zimbabwe's small business sector but faces ongoing challenges in managing bandwidth through data caps and fair use policies. Starlink offers a promising satellite alternative with fewer usage policy constraints reported, though it likely faces other challenges typical of satellite internet deployments.
The Econet SmartBiz service, a popular mobile internet choice for Zimbabwe's small businesses, schools, and remote workers, encounters continuous challenges due to bandwidth constraints and enforced Fair Usage Policies (FUP). On the other hand, Starlink's satellite internet service, considered a game-changer for some, operates with less publicly reported usage policy constraints, although it faces typical satellite internet challenges such as expensive equipment costs and potential latency.
