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Econet Wireless has initiated a sweeping overhaul of its fixed wireless internet product line, discontinuing its SmartBiz service and replacing it with a new, tiered system dubbed “SmartSuite.” The move, while framed as an upgrade, signals a significant strategic pivot for the telecoms giant, directly impacting how thousands of households and small businesses across Zimbabwe access and pay for data.
The transition, which began with customer notifications not long ago, is more than a simple rebrand. It represents a fundamental recalibration of data packages, introducing a six-tier pricing structure that stretches from an entry-level 50GB for $30 to a premium 800GB for $170. The outgoing Smartbiz ranged from $45 initially unlimited.
By Gamuchirai Mapako
The most consequential and technically significant change embedded in the new SmartSuite apart from the new prices, is the mandatory implementation of geo-locking. This technology, which ties the internet service to a specific geographical location using the CPE router’s address, is a double-edged sword. For users, it promises optimized and stable performance by effectively ring-fencing bandwidth and preventing network congestion from outside users. In practice, it means a subscriber’s internet connection is designed to work primarily at their registered address, a stark contrast to the more portable nature of some previous offerings.
For Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Econet, the benefits are clear: it allows for more efficient and predictable management of network resources. However, for a segment of customers particularly small businesses with multiple branches or individuals who occasionally needed to move their router this could represent a limitation. The era of easily relocating your fixed wireless connection appears to be closing.
The migration path for existing customers reveals the practical realities of this upgrade. For the previous SmartBiz subscribers who already owned a compatible CPE router, the switch was relatively straightforward: a USSD dial (*143#) allowed them to select a new plan and credit it. This group avoided immediate hardware costs.
New subscribers, however, face a higher barrier to entry. They must purchase a new SmartSuite-specific SIM card and, if they don’t already have one, a compatible 4G or 5G CPE router. Econet will sell these routers starting at $48, but acknowledges users can source their own, provided they meet unspecified technical specifications, a potential point of friction for less technically savvy consumers.
The replacement of SmartBiz with SmartSuite is not an isolated event but a reflection of the evolving digital economy in Zimbabwe. As data consumption skyrockets and reliance on stable internet for work, education, and commerce becomes absolute, the demands on network providers have intensified. Econet’s solution is a more controlled, location-anchored service that prioritizes consistent quality over portability.
The new SmartSuite packages are available immediately at Econet shops nationwide, marking the end of the SmartBiz era.
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