Enhancing Rural Zimbabwe's Internet Connectivity: Ministry of ICT Grants Starlink Equipment
Boosting Internet Connectivity in Zimbabwe with Starlink Kits
In a significant move to improve internet connectivity, particularly in rural districts, the government of Zimbabwe has donated Starlink internet kits to local authorities. The handover ceremony took place at the Harare International Conference Centre, with Minister Daniel Garwe praising the donation as a major step towards decentralised, data-driven governance.
The Starlink internet kits are designed to provide high-speed satellite internet, bypassing the need for costly and slow-to-deploy ground infrastructure. This makes them well-suited for Zimbabwe’s rural and remote areas where conventional providers have been slow or unable to connect residents.
The donation aligns with national goals under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) to bridge the digital divide. By providing reliable internet in rural areas, the kits will enable these communities to access information, digital services, education, and economic opportunities previously unavailable due to connectivity limitations.
The impact of this initiative is significant and multifaceted. Internet penetration and bandwidth usage have surged dramatically in Zimbabwe following Starlink’s launch, with virtual satellite (VSAT) subscriptions increasing over 500% within a few months into 2025. Starlink accounts for 83% of the country's international internet bandwidth consumption despite serving only 9% of fixed internet subscribers.
The deployment supports key sectors such as agriculture, mining, logistics, and environmental monitoring, enabling initiatives like precision agriculture and remote machine diagnostics through stable internet connections even in remote locations.
Minister Tatenda Mavetera believes the initiative reinforces internet access as a basic service, ensuring no community is left behind. The Starlink kit donations aim to overcome infrastructure challenges in rural Zimbabwe by using satellite internet to deliver fast, reliable connectivity, fostering digital inclusion and economic development in underserved districts. This is catalyzing a major shift in Zimbabwe's internet ecosystem, expanding access and boosting bandwidth use across the country.
[1] Starlink Internet Connectivity in Zimbabwe: A Game Changer for Rural Areas
[2] Starlink Boosts Zimbabwe's Internet Connectivity
[3] Starlink's Impact on Zimbabwe's Agriculture Sector
[4] Zimbabwe's Starlink Internet Usage Soars
[1] Starlink's data-and-cloud-computing technology has transformed satellite broadcast in Zimbabwe, particularly enhancing high-speed internet connectivity in rural areas.
[2] The deployment of Starlink kits in Zimbabwe has led to a remarkable surge in internet penetration, with the technology accounting for 83% of the country's international internet bandwidth consumption.
