In a recent call with Zimbabwe's Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Willard Shoko, High-Speed Internet Consultant, made a bold claim: Starlink, the satellite internet service provided by Elon Musk's SpaceX, is once again pushing the limits of physics when it comes to internet connectivity in Zimbabwe.
According to Shoko, Starlink is now able to achieve latency (the time it takes for data to travel between a user's device and the internet) of just 16 milliseconds (ms). This is lower than the latency of traditional fiber-optic broadband networks in Zimbabwe, which have typically been touted as the gold standard for high-speed, low-latency internet access.
"Once we have a ground station in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, Zimbabwe's fiber broadband will not only be slower and more expensive than Starlink, but it will also have higher latencies," Shoko warned.
This revelation poses a significant challenge to Zimbabwe's telecommunications landscape, which has long been dominated by the country's state-owned internet service provider, TelOne, and its fiber-optic network. Shoko emphasized the urgent need for Zimbabwe to improve its internet peering arrangements and provide open access to its broadband infrastructure to ensure fair competition and better service for consumers.
Peering is the interconnection of different internet service providers' networks, allowing for efficient internet traffic exchange. By improving peering, Zimbabwe can potentially reduce latency and increase the overall quality of its internet services.
The push for open access, on the other hand, would ensure that all providers, including newcomers like Starlink, have fair and equal access to Zimbabwe's broadband infrastructure. This could foster greater competition, drive down prices, and ultimately benefit Zimbabwean consumers.
"The government needs to act quickly to address these issues," Shoko said. "The country cannot afford to fall behind in the race for better, faster, and more affordable internet access."
The rise of Starlink's satellite-based internet service has already disrupted the traditional broadband landscape in many parts of the world, particularly in areas with limited or unreliable terrestrial infrastructure. Zimbabwe's ICT Minister and policymakers will need to carefully assess the implications of Starlink's technological advances and formulate a comprehensive strategy to ensure the country remains competitive in the rapidly evolving world of internet connectivity.