In early November, Precious Chinonzura, a 30-year-old entrepreneur from the village of Nhedziwa in Zimbabwe, visited a local telehealth booth seeking relief for persistent bladder pain. Within hours, she was able to consult a doctor online and have her prescribed medication delivered from a telehealth booth in Chakohwa, 22 km away. “I had privacy and could speak freely with the doctor,” Chinonzura shared with the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Telehealth, the use of technology to access healthcare remotely, is gaining traction worldwide, but in Zimbabwe, it has faced challenges due to unreliable and expensive internet access.
However, this situation is changing, thanks to Starlink, the satellite internet service from SpaceX. In May, Starlink received approval from Zimbabwe’s telecom regulator to operate within the country, offering a solution to the nation’s connectivity issues.
Since its African debut in 2023, Starlink has expanded its reach, although it has faced regulatory hurdles and complaints about its speed and cost. ZimSmart Villages, a company setting up telehealth services across Zimbabwe, has connected two of its 16 e-health centers to Starlink, with plans to connect five more by the end of November.
Tawanda Njerere, co-founder and COO of ZimSmart Villages, noted that Starlink’s fast, low-latency internet is crucial for virtual consultations on its BatsiHealth platform, especially in underserved areas where connectivity is typically a challenge.
“Starlink enables real-time consultations with near-in-person clarity, which is vital for accurate diagnoses,” Njerere said, adding that the service is also cost-effective for telehealth providers.
Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector has been in decline for years, affected by corruption, mismanagement, economic sanctions, and the region’s worst drought in decades.
With a severe shortage of medical professionals and limited access to basic medications, many Zimbabweans have turned to private healthcare options. The country has just 1.7 doctors per 10,000 people, far below the African average of 2.6 per 10,000, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Starlink’s expansion across Africa has been met with mixed reactions. While some praise its ability to provide reliable internet to remote areas, others cite its high costs.
The basic Starlink kit, which costs $170, with a $30 monthly subscription, is unaffordable for many in Zimbabwe, where the average monthly salary is around $350.
Local providers offer more affordable options, such as Liquid Intelligent Technologies, which sells a comparable kit for $225 with a $173 monthly fee.
Critics, such as Admire Mare, head of communication and media studies at the University of Johannesburg, argue that Starlink’s high costs may exacerbate the digital divide, leaving only wealthier individuals able to access the service’s benefits.
Despite these concerns, there is evidence that Starlink’s presence has already influenced local internet providers to lower their prices. For example, Zimbabwe’s largest mobile operator, Econet, reduced the price of its internet packages by 25% in August.
In the health sector, Starlink’s fast internet is expected to revolutionize telehealth in Zimbabwe by enabling international collaboration among doctors and improving access to remote care. “Connecting hospitals and clinics to high-speed internet means that doctors from anywhere in the world can collaborate and provide better care,” said Willard Shoko, a Starlink researcher and consultant.
Although Starlink’s full potential in Zimbabwe may still be developing, its presence is already making a significant impact, particularly in the healthcare sector, by overcoming the challenges posed by limited infrastructure and empowering communities with better access to essential services.