Zimbabwe Accelerates Digital Inclusion as POTRAZ Expands Connectivity Infrastructure Nationwide
The Postal & Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has upgraded 98 Digital Centres with Starlink technology across Zimbabwe, including 10 centres in Masvingo Province alone. To improve service reliability and ensure sustainable operations in areas where grid power remains inconsistent, 59 Digital Centres and post offices have also been solarised nationwide.
POTRAZÂ marked World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2026 with a series of concrete milestones, signalling a decisive push to close the country’s digital divide and build more resilient connectivity infrastructure. The commemorations were held under the theme “Digital Lifelines: Strengthening Resilience in a Connected World,” and included the official handover of the Nemamwa Digital Centre, bringing reliable ICT services to rural and underserved communities.
Starlink Adoption Surging Across Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has emerged as Starlink’s fastest-growing market in Africa. The country closed the fourth quarter of 2025 with 67,057 VSAT subscribers, up from 50,949 the previous quarter, a 31.7% increase in just three months and an addition of 16,108 users. Since Starlink’s entry into the Zimbabwean market in September 2024, VSAT subscriptions have grown at an average quarterly rate of 126%, according to POTRAZ’s latest performance data.
Bridging the Digital Divide in Education
Furthermore, POTRAZ has placed digital inclusion in education at the centre of its agenda. To date, more than 25,264 computers have been distributed to 1,419 schools nationwide, with an additional 3,030 computers allocated to 175 schools in Masvingo Province. These distributions are accompanied by internet connectivity, solar power systems, and digital learning resources, equipping learners with the tools they need to participate in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Connectivity in Context
As of late 2025, according to dataReportal, Zimbabwe had 16.2 million active cellular mobile connections, equivalent to 95% of the total population. Internet penetration stood at 38.4%, with 6.54 million individuals online, a figure that showcases both the progress made and the considerable ground still to cover.
With Starlink adoption accelerating, solar-powered infrastructure expanding, and computers reaching schools at scale, Zimbabwe’s digital trajectory is moving in a clear direction. POTRAZ’s 2026 milestones suggest that trajectory is only picking up pace.