Disgruntled SmartBiz consumers voice concerns over decreased internet speed.
In a move that has left many customers disgruntled, Econet has allegedly changed the Fair Usage Policy (FUP) limit for their $45 SmartBiz package. The new limit, reportedly set at 200GB, is a significant reduction from the previously advertised 1TB. This change, which occurred in July 2025, was not announced by Econet at the time, causing confusion and frustration among users.
The implementation of this new policy has resulted in drastically reduced internet speeds for users once they exceed the 200GB threshold, making the service impractical for many tasks. The company's website, SmartBiz page, still shows 1TB as the FUP cap, adding to the confusion.
Econet's adverts for SmartBiz are transparent about the FUP, but the current situation is murky. Several posts on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter indicate that Econet's support team is informing customers of the new FUP limit as 200GB. However, the official position from Econet regarding the change in FUP limit is yet to be disclosed.
ZimPriceCheck, an organisation that has detailed their experiences with SmartBiz over the past few weeks, reported that their internet speeds have been impacted, dropping to less than 300Kbps and sometimes as low as 3Kbps. This reduction in speed has made it difficult for users to carry out basic tasks such as browsing, streaming, and working online.
It is speculated that these normal internet service users may be light users of the service. However, a poll conducted by a local news outlet revealed that approximately 40% of SmartBiz users reported their internet service was functioning normally. This suggests that the issue may not be affecting all users equally.
FUP caps are common among internet providers in Zimbabwe and globally. They are used by providers to manage network capacity and ensure decent service for all customers. However, the sudden and unannounced change in the FUP limit has left many customers feeling misled and frustrated.
A customer on Facebook shared their experience of the SmartBiz network being down for over a week, despite multiple calls to Econet for resolution. This incident further highlights the dissatisfaction among customers.
As the situation continues to unfold, customers are calling for transparency and clear communication from Econet regarding the change in the FUP limit and the impact it has on their service. Econet has yet to respond officially to these concerns.
The significantly reduced Fair Usage Policy (FUP) limit for Econet's SmartBiz package, now at 200GB, has led to slow internet speeds for some users, making the service impractical for various tasks. Despite the company's adverts still claiming 1TB as the FUP cap, their support team is allegedly informing customers of the new limit.
As normal internet users experience issues like reduced speeds and disrupted services, there is growing concern about the sudden and unannounced change in the FUP limit, with many customers feeling misled and demanding transparency from Econet.
