How much is the internet in Zimbabwe? – Here’s a comparison of local broadband prices in 2017

As January 2017 draws to a close the one that most Zimbabweans will remember about the month is the increase and subsequent decrease of mobile data prices.

The episode highlighted once again just how expensive it is to access the internet in Zimbabwe with citizens sounding the #DataMustFall call.

While there have been other changes to broadband packages offered by some internet providers like the reductions from operators like Aptics, Powertel, Telco and TelOne, the cost of internet access is still prohibitive.

The majority of internet connections (at least 98%) are made via mobile devices through the country’s three mobile network operators with most subscribers relying on bundles that cost as much as $3 a month to access specific applications like Facebook and WhatsApp.

Outside these service bundles, there are a number of home packages which, considering their limited uptake versus mobile broadband, are yet to become the leading options for internet access.

There is also the option of public WiFi hotspots, which guarantee deals ranging from a free 30-minute daily access window (courtesy of ZOL) to a $1 for 1 GB offer from TelOne.

All these options are what Zimbabweans rely on for their internet experience.

Having said that, here is a look at the popular Zimbabwean broadband packages from the dominant players in the market. The figures give a picture of how much people are paying to go online locally.

Mobile Network Operator Prices

Data Price (US$) *All prices are for bundle rates	Econet Wireless Broadband	NetOne Broadband	Telecel Broadband
0.50	5 MB	8 MB	4.8 MB
1	10 MB	17 MB	9.5 MB
3	75 MB	70 MB	76 MB
5	125 MB	125 MB	142.5 MB
10	300 MB	285 MB	304 MB
20	750 MB	670 MB	800 MB
30	–	1 GB	–
35	1.2 GB	–	–
45	–	–	2GB
50	2.5 GB	2 GB	–
75	–	–	4GB

Social Media Bundles from Mobile Network Operators

MOBILE OPERATORS/Validity	Facebook Bundles		WhatsApp Bundles		Twitter Bundles
	COST ($)	DATA (MB)	COST ($)	DATA (MB)	COST ($)	DATA (MB)
ECONET
24 hours	0.30	20	0.30	20	n/a	n/a
7 days	0.95	70	0.95	90	n/a	n/a
30 days	3.00	220	3.00	220	n/a	n/a
NETONE
24 hours	0.27	40	0.27	40	0.27	50
7 days	0.87	100	0.87	100	0.87	100
30 days	2.80	250	2.80	250	2.80	300
TELECEL
24 hours	0.35	20	0.35	20	n/a	n/a
7 days	1.00	100	1.00	180	n/a	n/a
30 days	2.85	200	2.85	300	n/a	n/a

Aptics Zimbabwe

Package(all packages are unlimited)	Cost($US)	Speed
Aptics Basic	60	1 Mbps
Aptics Standard	115	2Mbps
Aptics Deluxe	170	3Mbps

Africom Zimbabwe

Package/ Bundle	Price	Data	Validity (Days)
Daily	50 cents	80 MB	1
Daily	$1	250 MB	1
Weekly	$1	150 MB	7
Weekly	$3	1 GB	7
Night browsing	$4	7 GB (1 GB per night)	7
Weekly	$5	2 GB	7
MiChoice	$1	100 MB	30
MiChoice	$10	1.2 GB	30
	$5	600 MB	30
MiChoice	$20	10 GB	30
MiChoice	$25	15 GB	30
MultiConnect (WiMax Data)
Light	$36	15 GB	30
Home	$40	20 GB	30
Home Plus	$47	30 GB	30
SME	$54	40 GB	30
Corporate	$61	50 GB	30
Heavy	$90	90 GB	30

iWay Africa

Package	Cost ($US)	Speed	Data Allowance
WiMax	from 99	from 1Mbps	from 40 GB p/m
Fibre	from 99	from 1Mbps	from 40 GB p/m

Powertel

PRICE ($US)	DATA (GB)
2.50	1
5	2
10	4
20	8
25	10
35	15
40	Unlimited

TelOne ADSL

PACKAGE	PRICE ($US)	SPEED (maximum or “up to”)	Data (GB)
Home Plus	25	3 Mbps	30
Home Premier	42	4 Mbps	60
Infinity Pro	89	3 Mbps	Unlimited
Infinity Supreme	150	4 Mbps	Unlimited

TelOne Fibre

Package	Price ($USD)	Download Speed (maximum or “up to”)	Data Cap
Starter	23	5 Mbps	20 GB
Boost	70	10 Mbps	60 GB
Intense	118	20 Mbps	Unlimited

TeleContract (Telco)

Package	Price($US)	Speeds of up to (Mbps)	Data Cap (GB)
11G	25	5	11
18G	35	5	18
25G	42	5	25
38G	50	5	38
			UNLIMITED PACKAGES
Fire	128	10	–
Ultra	185	15	–
Velocity Stream	199		–
Xtreme	208	20	–

uMAX

musheMAX	monthlyMAX	skyMAX
$45/ month	$75/month	$150/month
15GB allowance	40 GB allowance	150 GB allowance
2 Mbps download speed	3 Mbps speed	up to 5 Mbps
15GB access off-peak (12am -6am)	40 GB accessible off-peak (between 10pm and 6am)	Unlimited access off peak (between 10pm and 6am)

ZOL Zimbabwe

Package	Price ($US)	Speed	Data
WiMAX Broadband packages
Plus	49	up to 1Mbps	Unlimited
Enhanced	99	up to 2Mbps	Unlimited
Ultra	129	up to 3Mbps	Unlimited
ZOL Fibroniks (Fibre packages)
Fibroniks Lite	29		15 GB
Basic Essentials	39	up to 5 Mbps	25 GB
Family Essentials	89	up to 10 Mbps	50 GB
Family Entertainment	149	up to 20 Mbps	unlimited
Modern Family	199	up to 30 Mbps	unlimited
Turbo Pack	339	up to 100 Mbps	unlimited