Kenya’s digital landscape is poised for continued expansion, with a focus on improving digital access across both urban and rural regions. Addressing infrastructure constraints and maintaining favorable regulatory conditions will be key to supporting this momentum.
Starlink has paused new subscriptions in Nairobi and five nearby counties due to overwhelming demand that has stretched the network's capacity. On November 4, CEO Elon Musk addressed the issue, stating that Starlink is actively working to expand internet capacity in densely populated urban areas.
Starlink is working to increase Internet capacity in dense urban areas in Africa as fast as possible.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 4, 2024
Please note that there is still significant capacity outside of city centers. https://t.co/Vlk4sNDAjX
The Communications Authority of Kenya reveals in its Fourth Quarter Sector Statistics Report For The Financial Year 2023/2024 that Satellite subscriptions recorded a significant growth, from 405 in June 2023 to 8,324 in June 2024, an annual growth rate of 1,955.3%. This growth is attributed to the licensing and subsequent launch of Starlink Internet Services Kenya earlier in the financial year, laying the foundation for digital services to reach even remote regions.
Starlink provides high-speed, low-latency broadband using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, offering speeds of up to 200 Mbps. Initially, Starlink offered a 100 Mbps plan at KES 6,500 ($50), while leading telco Safaricom provided the same speed in its Diamond plan at KES 12,499 ($97). However, in response to competition, Safaricom upgraded its Diamond package in September 2024, maintaining the same price but increasing the speed to 500 Mbps.
Since its launch in Kenya in July 2023, Starlink has risen to capture 0.5% of the market share with 8,063 subscribers, according to the Communications Authority. This growth was fueled by discounted kits and affordable monthly plans. To attract budget-conscious customers, Starlink introduced a KES 1,950 ($15) monthly rental plan for its hardware in August this year, which otherwise costs KES 45,000 ($349) to purchase.
This situation serves as a valuable case for broader discussions on internet infrastructure in Africa, where underserved regions often struggle with high costs and inconsistent service from traditional ISPs. Starlink's entry into the market has been a disruptive force, offering an alternative with competitive pricing and reaching areas previously underserved by terrestrial networks.
Hikmatu Bilali
• Inflation within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) fell to a two-year low of 0....
• Interbank volumes rose 18.7% in May, while rates declined across the market• The BCEAO cut its mai...
• The U.S. imposed a 20% tariff on cashew exports from Vietnam and a 40% tax on suspected transshipm...
Cauri Money launches Gajo Money, an e-wallet for the Cameroonian diaspora, targeting €120 mil...
• Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways establish strategic agreement, introducing a third daily flight be...
• CMOC increased cobalt production by 13% to 61,073 tonnes in the first half of 2025.• The DRC extended its cobalt export ban, forcing CMOC to stockpile...
• IMF extends Niger’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) program by one year through December 2026.• IMF approves a $41 million disbursement tied to...
Kenya plans to import 1.05 million tonnes of palm oil in 2025/2026, near its highest ever level. Malaysia supplies 90% of Kenya’s palm oil, sharply...
EBRD grants $100 million loan to Banque Misr to expand credit access for SMEs and women-led businesses. Loan supports Egypt’s green finance...
The Emerald Sea is a vast turquoise lagoon located in the northern part of Madagascar, just a few kilometers from the town of Antsiranana (formerly Diego...
Malawi’s Mount Mulanje and Cameroon’s Diy-Gid-Biy added to UNESCO World Heritage List Africa still holds 25% of endangered sites, despite recent...