By Melody Korongwe
Zimbabwe’s leading telecoms giant, Econet Wireless, is struggling to maintain its grip on the market as widespread connectivity issues continue to frustrate its user base.
Once a symbol of innovation, the company now finds itself on the defensive, with rising customer dissatisfaction and fierce competition threatening its dominance.
Over the past year, Econet subscribers across Zimbabwe have been plagued by frequent network outages, painfully slow data speeds, and dropped calls.
These issues have become so chronic that the company recently issued a public apology, stated, “We apologize for the Data challenges you may be experiencing. Our engineers are working to restore normal service.”
But for many, that apology is too little, too late.
“I’ve stopped buying big data bundles because I can’t even open WhatsApp most of the time,” fumed a user in Harare.
Similar sentiments are echoed across social media, where hashtags calling for better service have trended repeatedly.
At the heart of Econet’s crisis is the emergence of a powerful new rival—Starlink.
Spearheaded by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Starlink provides high-speed satellite internet that bypasses traditional telecom infrastructure.
Its early rollout in Zimbabwe has attracted urban elites, rural communities, and small businesses desperate for reliable connectivity.
“Starlink is not just a competitor; it’s a wake-up call. Its service is reliable, fast, and increasingly affordable. Econet must move quickly or risk becoming irrelevant.” said a local tech analyst.
Econet’s challenges are also compounded by Zimbabwe’s harsh economic climate. Currency instability, high import costs, and limited access to foreign exchange make it difficult for the company to upgrade its equipment and expand its network.
Despite these hurdles, critics argued that Econet has failed to adapt.
“They’ve rested too long on their past success, their customer service is weak, and they’ve not reinvested enough in infrastructure,” noted one business commentator.
Unless the company initiates a rapid transformation—boosting data quality, reducing costs, and innovating its services—Econet risks being overtaken by new-age satellite services.
The telecom landscape in Zimbabwe is changing fast, and only the agile will survive.
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