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 |
Quick NetOne, Telecel, Africom, Econet Airtime Recharge
ZOL Chembroniks… They are abusing their fair use policy, almost everyone is crying foul. Surprisingly even companies are feeling their stringent approach.
What are there doing? I wanted to subscribe WIMAX?
If I had the option of Fibre I would try Telone. Every penny and gig counts. ZOL needs to employ more Customer Service assistants. Who can wait up to 40 mins or more for assistance on the phone?
Telone home premier is definitely real value….60gb at 4mbps for 42$. Been using for a year and I’m really impressed…. My phone line went down on a Sunday …. Phone the hotline on Sunday …Someone actually picked after a few minutes….More surprisingly come Monday morning the line was fixed…Superb customer service…Highly recomended
I’m sorry to say they are all crooks. I mean the mobile data operates as you can pay ie econet .95c for a week or 70mb but you can hardly ever connect or download anything. It’s such a rip off. And they get richer by the minute. Sad. And no one can do anything about it.
I’m thinking of trying the powertel unlimited package for $40. They recently installed fibre in my area and not many people will be using it. Anyone can weigh in with their experience please?
Thanks for the article! Very informative 🙂