After more than seven months of blocking new users, Starlink is taking fresh sign-ups in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya. Its coverage map now shows availability in key towns, and at least three users told they’ve managed to activate their kits this month.
“It can be installed anywhere in Kenya right now,” said Isaac Migiro, a customer in Nairobi who purchased a kit in December and activated it this June.
A retailer who sells Starlink kits told on Monday, June 23, that “Starlink is now back to full capacity.”
The freeze, which began in late 2024 and affected Nairobi and other areas, including Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado, and Murang’a, resulted from a surge in demand that stretched Starlink’s network past its limits. Too many users in one area meant slower speeds, lags, and an eventual halt on new activations. A new ground station in Nairobi, launched in January, was meant to ease the pressure, but demand in urban areas is still pushing the network to its limits.
At the same time, Starlink’s rapid growth, driven by word of mouth, media attention, and social posts from Elon Musk, has run into regulatory pushback. In Kenya, the government wants to raise satellite licence fees from $12,302 to $115,331 and introduce a 0.4% turnover levy, a move that would hit smaller satellite internet service providers (ISPs) hardest and give an edge to bigger players. Elsewhere, in countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe, Starlink is facing resistance for operating without full local approvals or through unofficial resellers.
Still, the service fills a clear gap, especially for users in remote and peri-urban areas, where fibre is unreliable or unavailable and where Starlink is the only real option for fast internet. Even with steep costs of KES 30,000 ($232) for hardware and KES 6,500 ($50) monthly, it’s become essential for homes, schools, and small businesses outside city centres.
But local rivals aren’t sitting back. Safaricom is pushing cheaper 5G routers, with devices priced at KES 3,000 ($23) and monthly plans starting at KES 4,000 ($31), less than half of what Starlink charges. These plans target customers in urban and peri-urban areas with decent mobile coverage.
Airtel has teamed up with Starlink to use its satellite backhaul for rural expansion. Safaricom has also hinted at exploring satellite partnerships of its own, indicating that the market is shifting towards hybrid models that combine fibre, mobile, and satellite connections.
By the end of 2024, Starlink had over 19,000 active users in Kenya, making it the seventh-largest ISP. But it still has no local office and handles everything online, a setup that frustrates customers dealing with delays.
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