Zimbabwe is a country with a population of about 15 million people and a growing demand for internet access. However, not all internet service providers (ISPs) in Zimbabwe offer the same quality of service and customer satisfaction. In this article, I will compare the five main ISPs in Zimbabwe: TelOne, NetOne, Econet, ZOL, and Utande, and determine which one is the fastest and most stable currently.
TelOne is the second-largest ISP in Zimbabwe, with a market share of about 30%. It offers fibre, ADSL, and wireless internet services, as well as mobile broadband and voice services. TelOne has the second-best network coverage and the second-highest number of base stations in the country. TelOne has the lowest tariffs and the most loyal customers in the market. According to the Speedtest Global Index, TelOne’s average download speed in the first quarter of 2022 was 16.92 Mbps, while its average upload speed was 6.36 Mbps.
NetOne is the second-largest mobile network operator (MNO) in Zimbabwe, with a market share of about 20%. It offers 2G, 3G, and 4G services, as well as mobile money and broadband. NetOne has the second-best network coverage and the second-highest number of base stations in the country. NetOne has the best balance between speed, coverage, price, and customer satisfaction among the MNOs in Zimbabwe. NetOne’s average download speed in the first quarter of 2022 was 12.7 Mbps, while its average upload speed was 6.4 Mbps.
Econet Wireless is the largest and oldest MNO in Zimbabwe, with a market share of about 70%. It offers 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G services, as well as mobile money, broadband, and digital solutions. Econet has the widest network coverage and the highest number of base stations in the country. However, Econet also has the highest tariffs and the most complaints from customers about poor service quality, network congestion, and billing errors. Econet’s average download speed in the first quarter of 2022 was 10.9 Mbps, while its average upload speed was 5.6 Mbps.
ZOL is the largest and most popular ISP in Zimbabwe, with a market share of about 40%. It offers fibre, wireless, and satellite internet services, as well as mobile broadband and digital solutions. ZOL has the widest network coverage and the highest number of base stations in the country. However, ZOL also has the highest tariffs and the most complaints from customers about poor service quality, network congestion, and billing errors. ZOL’s average download speed in the first quarter of 2022 was 9.78 Mbps, while its average upload speed was 5.13 Mbps.
Utande is the third-largest ISP in Zimbabwe, with a market share of about 15%. It offers fibre, wireless, and satellite internet services, as well as mobile broadband and cloud services. Utande has the third-best network coverage and the third-highest number of base stations in the country. Utande has the most attractive and affordable packages, such as Unlimited Home and Business, but it has failed to capitalize on its popularity due to poor network quality, frequent disruptions, and lack of investment. Utande’s average download speed in the first quarter of 2022 was 6.96 Mbps, while its average upload speed was 3.86 Mbps.
Based on the data and analysis above, I conclude that TelOne is the fastest and most stable ISP in Zimbabwe currently. TelOne has the best balance between speed, coverage, price, and customer satisfaction. TelOne also has the potential to grow its market share and challenge ZOL’s dominance in the future. Therefore, I recommend TelOne as the best choice for internet users in Zimbabwe who value speed and stability.