The first quarter of 2025 has seen a dramatic transformation in Zimbabwe’s internet landscape, largely driven by the burgeoning presence of Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service. While the official Q1 2025 Abridged Sector Performance Report from POTRAZ (Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe) does not explicitly name Starlink, the data presented within the report, when cross-referenced with recent developments, strongly indicates the satellite internet provider’s profound influence on data use and international connectivity.
According to the POTRAZ report, mobile internet/data traffic in Zimbabwe witnessed a significant increase of 17.31% in Q1 2025, soaring from 97.19 Petabytes (PB) in Q4 2024 to an impressive 114.02 PB. This surge in data consumption aligns with the rapid adoption of Starlink services across the country. Recent reports highlight that Starlink now accounts for a staggering 83% of Zimbabwe’s international internet capacity usage . This is particularly remarkable given that Starlink serves a relatively small user base, with approximately 27,000 subscribers as of March 2025, an increase from 20,000 in December 2024 . This indicates an exceptionally high per-user data consumption for Starlink subscribers, underscoring the demand for reliable and high-speed internet in areas previously underserved or burdened by high data costs.
The report also notes a substantial increase in equipped international Internet bandwidth capacity, which grew by 2.29% from 1,401,746 Mbps to 1,433,865 Mbps. More critically, used incoming international Internet bandwidth capacity experienced an astounding 202.90% increase, jumping from 889,102 Mbps to 2,693,127 Mbps. Similarly, used outgoing international Internet bandwidth capacity saw a 131.43% growth, from 169,957 Mbps to 393,323 Mbps. These figures directly reflect the impact of services like Starlink, which provide direct international connectivity, bypassing traditional terrestrial infrastructure limitations.
Starlink’s entry into the Zimbabwean market, officially launched nationwide as of September 7, 2024, has not only driven a boom in internet usage but has also led to a significant growth in VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) subscriptions. POTRAZ reports a 500% growth in VSAT subscriptions since Starlink’s launch, with subscriptions rising a further 32.02% to 30,907 in Q1 2025 . This rapid uptake highlights the critical need for alternative internet solutions in a country where traditional internet access has often been expensive and unreliable.
While the overall internet penetration rate in Zimbabwe saw a slight decline in Q1 2025 (from 77.55% to 76.19%), attributed to an increase in estimated annual population figures, the dramatic increase in data traffic and international bandwidth usage, largely propelled by Starlink, points to a deepening engagement with the digital world for those with access. The satellite internet service is effectively bridging connectivity gaps and enabling higher data consumption, thereby reshaping the competitive landscape and pushing the boundaries of internet accessibility in Zimbabwe.
