With the recent entry of Starlink into Zimbabwe creating considerable excitement in the market, Econet Wireless – the country’s largest mobile telecommunications and technology company – has quietly positioned itself to go head-to-head in competition with the low earth orbit satellite broadband provider.
Econet recently introduced SmartBiz broadband data packages designed to address the connectivity needs of various business categories, including small and medium-sized business enterprises (SMEs), farmers, schools, artisanal miners, and churches across the country.Econet SmartBiz offers high-speed broadband data services at competitive prices, starting from just US$45 per month.
The package provides unlimited, high-speed internet at a fixed rate, with other tiers available for US$87, US$167 up to US$417 50Mbps.
These compare favourably with Starlink’s main packages which include a once-off US350 fee for the startup kit, plus US$50 a month for the standard residential package, US$100 a month for the roaming package, US$71 for the business priority package (40GB), up to the US$200 a month business priority package, for unlimited data.
Last week a senior Econet executive said the company was ready to compete with Starlink’s entry into the market by continuing to focus on purposefully bridging Zimbabwe’s digital divide.
“We are committed to providing reliable, affordable connectivity to ensure that businesses, even in the most remote locations, can thrive in the digital economy.
“With our extensive 4G and 5G network infrastructure, further bolstered by ongoing nationwide upgrades, SmartBiz is designed to empower enterprises of different sizes across the country,” said Kezito Makuni, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe’s Chief Operating Officer.
Econet’s Smartbiz product uses the mobile operator’s extensive national 4G (LTE) coverage and its growing 5G coverage in towns and cities across the country.
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The listed company, which has been heavily investing in upgrading its technology infrastructure, has over the past 18 months alone upgraded over 1 000 sites across the country to 4G, with a further 500 set to be upgraded this financial year.
The radio access (base station) network upgrade has gone hand in hand with Econet’s modernization of its core network, which it has now ‘virtualized’ to guarantee greater performance, more security and super-fast turnaround times for the resolution core network faults.
Makuni said Smartbiz was tailored to meet the needs of local businesses, and would leverage Econet’s ongoing network upgrades.
“Our Smartbiz packages are intended to address the unique hurdles faced by small businesses, including farmers and artisanal miners, particularly when it comes to accessing affordable, reliable data. SmartBiz Data Packages provide these enterprises with the digital tools they need to innovate, improve customer experiences, and expand their businesses into new markets.
“Cost predictability is a vital component for any business, and Smartbiz allows them to focus on their core operations without worrying about fluctuating connectivity expenses,” said Makuni.
He added that Econet had also introduced a credit facility for SmartBiz internet routers for SMEs and organizations such as churches and schools, enabling these key institutions to access high-speed internet without the burden of upfront costs.
