{"id":94696,"date":"2024-05-26T11:20:55","date_gmt":"2024-05-26T09:20:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/mnangagwa-grants-starlink-license-to-his-sidekick"},"modified":"2024-05-26T14:43:01","modified_gmt":"2024-05-26T12:43:01","slug":"mnangagwa-grants-starlink-license-to-his-sidekick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/mnangagwa-grants-starlink-license-to-his-sidekick","title":{"rendered":"Mnangagwa Grants Starlink License To His Sidekick"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. <\/strong><\/span>HARARE \u2013 Zimbabwe\u2019s telecommunications landscape is set for a significant transformation as Zanu PF benefactor Wicknell Chivayo and his company IMC Communications secure the coveted Starlink deal, following the government\u2019s approval of Elon Musk\u2019s innovation to operate in the country.<\/p>\n

President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced on Saturday that he has \u201capproved the licensing of Starlink by POTRAZ, the country\u2019s telecommunications regulator, to provide advanced internet and related digital processing services in Zimbabwe.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a statement shared on his X account, Mnangagwa underscored the importance of technology in daily activities, emphasizing the government\u2019s commitment to promoting investment in the sector. He expressed pleasure in approving the licensing of Starlink, in partnership with IMC Communications, to offer advanced internet services, particularly in rural areas.<\/p>\n

Starlink, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite operator owned by SpaceX, led by American billionaire Elon Musk, is expected to deploy high-speed, low-cost internet infrastructure across Zimbabwe, aligning with Mnangagwa\u2019s vision of inclusive development.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis will be in fulfillment of my administration\u2019s undertaking to leave no one and no place behind,\u201d Mnangagwa stated, highlighting the government\u2019s \u201cZimbabwe is open for business\u201d mantra and encouraging further foreign investment in the country.<\/p>\n

The move comes amid previous arrests of local operators, including Neville Mutsvangwa, son of a cabinet minister, for allegedly using Starlink illegally. Mutsvangwa remains in custody facing charges related to unauthorized use of the service.<\/p>\n

While the licensing of Starlink aligns with national objectives, concerns have been raised about the awarding of the tender to a businessman with close ties to Zanu PF, potentially raising questions about the use of state resources for partisan interests.<\/p>\n

Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Mozambique, and Malawi are among the African countries that have already licensed Starlink, reflecting the growing importance of satellite technology in expanding internet access across the continent.<\/p>\n

The government is set to reveal the \u201ctechnical modalities\u201d for licensing the satellite internet service provider Starlink through the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz). This follows President Emmerson Mnangagwa\u2019s recent announcement on his X (formerly Twitter) account approving Starlink\u2019s licensing by Potraz, aiming to provide advanced internet and digital processing services across Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n

Starlink, owned by South Africa-born American billionaire Elon Musk, operates a satellite internet system and low-earth orbit (LEO) network known for delivering high-speed internet globally.<\/p>\n

This initiative seeks to bolster the digital economy, bridge the digital divide, and fulfill the government\u2019s promise to \u201cleave no one and no place behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, expressed gratitude for the President\u2019s support. \u201cWe are happy that we have a listening President. We are soon going to announce the technical modalities together with Potraz. This will ensure that no one and no place is left behind,\u201d Mavetera told our Harare Bureau.<\/p>\n

Potraz director-general Dr. Gift Machengete confirmed that Starlink had applied for a license and consultations were underway.<\/p>\n

President Mnangagwa highlighted that Starlink\u2019s entry would usher in a new era of high-speed, low-cost internet services. \u201cThe entry by Starlink in the digital telecommunications space in Zimbabwe is expected to result in the deployment of high-speed, low-cost LEO internet infrastructure throughout Zimbabwe, particularly in all rural areas,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

This initiative aligns with the Second Republic\u2019s Vision 2030, which prioritizes innovation, science, and technology as strategic pillars for development. The government aims to lead in creating an environment conducive to technological investment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am pleased to announce that I have approved the licensing of Starlink by Potraz to provide advanced internet and related digital processing services in Zimbabwe through its sole and exclusive local partner, IMC Communications (Pvt) Ltd,\u201d Mnangagwa added.<\/p>\n

Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX led by Elon Musk, the world\u2019s third richest person, will be instrumental in achieving Zimbabwe\u2019s goal of becoming a fully digitalized, upper middle-income economy by 2030.<\/p>\n

Mnangagwa encouraged more foreign investment in Zimbabwe, emphasizing the country as an \u201cinvestment destination of choice.\u201d He congratulated IMC Communications and Starlink on their milestone, which is expected to revolutionize Zimbabwe\u2019s digital and communications technology landscape.<\/p>\n

Starlink\u2019s technology offers competitive prices for universal connectivity, unlimited data, seamless self-installation, and high internet speeds. The hardware costs approximately US$600, with monthly subscriptions averaging US$50, providing download speeds above 100 megabits per second (Mbps). In comparison, the cheapest unlimited internet service in Zimbabwe costs about US$240 per month, with speeds significantly lower than those offered by Starlink.<\/p>\n

According to Potraz statistics, Zimbabwe\u2019s internet penetration stands at approximately 70.1 percent.<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Zimbabwe<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. HARARE \u2013 Zimbabwe\u2019s telecommunications landscape is set for a significant transformation as Zanu PF benefactor Wicknell Chivayo and his company IMC Communications secure the coveted Starlink deal, following the government\u2019s approval of Elon Musk\u2019s innovation to operate in the country. President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced on Saturday that he has \u201capproved the licensing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":94695,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,8,35,12,2715],"tags":[1493,2189,19],"class_list":["post-94696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-head-lines","category-homepage-english","category-policy","category-to-homepage","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-zimbabwe-2","tag-zimbabwe"],"yoast_head":"\nMnangagwa Grants Starlink License To His Sidekick - zimbabwe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"HARARE \u2013 Zimbabwe\u2019s telecommunications landscape is set for a significant transformation as Zanu PF benefactor Wicknell ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/mnangagwa-grants-starlink-license-to-his-sidekick\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mnangagwa Grants Starlink License To His Sidekick\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"HARARE \u2013 Zimbabwe\u2019s telecommunications landscape is set for a significant transformation as Zanu PF benefactor Wicknell ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/mnangagwa-grants-starlink-license-to-his-sidekick\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"zimbabwe\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-05-26T09:20:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-05-26T12:43:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/sites\/14\/2024\/05\/sm_1716710734.494527.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1074\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"615\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/mnangagwa-grants-starlink-license-to-his-sidekick#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/mnangagwa-grants-starlink-license-to-his-sidekick\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"Mnangagwa Grants Starlink License To His Sidekick\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-05-26T09:20:55+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-05-26T12:43:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/mnangagwa-grants-starlink-license-to-his-sidekick\"},\"wordCount\":767,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/mnangagwa-grants-starlink-license-to-his-sidekick#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/sites\/14\/2024\/05\/sm_1716710734.494527.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Africa Press\",\"Africa Press-Zimbabwe\",\"Zimbabwe\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"head lines\",\"homepage-english\",\"policy\",\"to-homepage\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/mnangagwa-grants-starlink-license-to-his-sidekick#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/mnangagwa-grants-starlink-license-to-his-sidekick\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/mnangagwa-grants-starlink-license-to-his-sidekick\",\"name\":\"Mnangagwa Grants Starlink License To His Sidekick - 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