Blog #Econet

It seems the telecoms industry is still suffering the consequences of StarLinks’ entry into the ISP sector, so much so that Zimbabwes’ biggest telecoms players are making changes after changes to try and keep up with the changing market. Having previously launched the SmartBiz data plan to try and counter StarLink, Econet is set to launch new data packages. The new data packages will be an improvement to the current SmartBiz, with this change coming based on feedback from customers which means some of your concerns were heard and taken into consideration. Well the devil is in the details, let’s delve deep into the upcoming changes.

Prior to StarLink entry, Zimbabwe had one of the most expensive data packages if not the most expensive in the world. While the introduction of StarLink might have resulted in changes the problem is still not yet resolved. Some giants like Econet were forced to innovate, coming up with SmartBiz to counter the StarLink threat. While StarLink monthly pricing is cheap, well there Kit to get started has a steep price tag which most Zimbabweans can’t afford in one go, that’s why most Zimbabweans have failed to crossover. But StarLink now offers these Kits for free in Zimbabwe and DRC just like how it has done in several European countries but to get a free kit you have to commit to a 12 month subscription plan. So here is all you need to know.

For the past few years, EcoCash has been introducing new wallets to cope with the times and market demands from introducing USD wallets, merchants, diaspora wallets to even virtual cards. Now EcoCash has launched a special wallet designed specifically for small and medium businesses, vendors, and service providers that in reality account for over 60% of the country’s economy. Dubbed EcoCash Plus, the company said the new product addresses the day-to-day operational needs of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), by enabling them to transact, pay bills, manage payroll, and access business records, all through their mobile phones. This surely is a good move to help small businesses navigate the complexities of operating in an unstable economy. Let’s delve deep.

Network disruptions have always been normal as maintenance and system upgrades have been done occasionally. This usually takes a few hours, a day or two but lately Econet has been in a major dilemma with the latest disruption. Econet Wireless, is battling to maintain reliable network services amid mounting customer frustrations and increasing competition from Elon Musk’s Starlink. So here is all you need to know and how it impacts everyone Econet user out there.

For as long as i can remember, i have only known one company controlling the generation and distribution of Electricity in Zimbabwe. Zesa Holdings through it’s subsidiaries , the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), has been the only licensed company. To say that they haven’t been delivering is an understatement, with Zimbabweans plunged into darkness and in most severe cases going 18 to 21 hours without electricity a few years back when the situation reached a critical point but all this is soon to change as private entities in Zimbabwe be licensed to generate, distribute, and transmit electricity across the country to tackle this crisis. This trend of licensing private players has been spreading in different industries in Zimbabwe and it’s safe to say it’s working one notable sector as we mentioned in previous articles is the telecommunications sector. But it’s not all good news though…

The inevitable arrival of Starlink brought about drastic changes to the Zimbabwe telecommunications industry and the Zimbabwean internet landscape as a whole, much to the delight of consumers because more competition means more options and less prices. While the introduction of Starlink garnered significant attention, another development has been quietly unfolding: the emergence of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). Zimbabwe has been licensing more private entities from energy to telecommunications, Among these, Tagtel Communications has positioned itself as a popular contender by providing more affordable alternatives. So what should consumers know?

It’s no secret that your ISP can throttle your speed by prioritizing other users when the usage is in peak demand. We have seen this subtly done by Econet, Telone and Netone but to really understand this concept take a look a closer look at StarLink, they openly do it and they actually explain the concept explicitly in the data plans. Well even WiFi connections also do this kind of thing, that’s why you see sometimes your internet speed is insanely fast but sometimes it’s very slow but on the same plan. This prioritization is often given to subscribers paying more but what if i tell you that you can get more speed out of your current internet plan and equipment by optimizing your setup. So here’s how.

Cybersecurity is a must know for techies and non techies alike, given the rise in Cyber threats across the globe, with it proving to be a billion dollar industry for Cyber criminals. It was reported earlier that Zimbabwe’s largest mobile network service, Econent Wireless was the latest victim of such kind of attacks but the company has scoffed at media reports that its customer records have been compromised in a large-scale data breach. While the story is still developing what does this mean for us users and what steps should we take to ensure that our data and accounts are safe and secure.