Starlink is a satellite-based internet service created by SpaceX. It serves as a point of technological evolution: for the first time, remote villages, farms, and communities far from network towers and fiber infrastructure have access to fast internet with low latency— for a price.
But as adoption grows, so do the major concerns: Is Starlink too expensive for African households? How much does a Starlink subscription cost, and how much is needed to buy a Starlink?
This article explores Starlink’s hardware pricing in Nigeria and Kenya, and assesses whether the service is realistically affordable in these African countries.
Why is Starlink attracting attention in Africa?
One of Starlink’s selling points is its ability to work anywhere with a view of the sky, including deserts and rural areas. According to the United Nations Population Division (2024), 49.2 percent of Africans live in rural areas—30.7 percent of South Africans, 44.7 percent of Nigerians, and 69.95 percent of Kenyans. By living in rural areas, many Africans are underserved by traditional telecom infrastructure. For this group of people, Starlink offers:
- Reliable coverage without depending on local internet service providers.
What you pay for: hardware, dish, router, and accessories
Every Starlink user must purchase the following hardware to have access to Starlink’s service:
- Cables and mounting equipment.
Optional equivalents like pole mounts, long cables, or solar setups can increase the cost.
Starlink subscription tiers
Starlink offers several plans, depending on your preference or how you want to use the service:
Starlink hardware price: how much does it cost to buy Starlink in Nigeria and Kenya?
The cost of Starlink hardware in Nigeria and Kenya varies across countries due to different factors. Below is a pricing breakdown of the available pricing information for each operational country.
Nigeria
The Starlink Standard Kit in Nigeria costs about ₦590,000 ($406.83) when purchased directly from the official Starlink website. The package includes the dish, Wi-Fi router, mounting hardware, and all necessary cables. Installation is straightforward, so you can set it up yourself without hiring a technician.
Starlink also offers the Starlink Mini Kit, priced at about ₦318,000 ($219.27). This version is smaller, lightweight, and easy to carry, making it ideal if you travel frequently or need reliable internet on the go.
Kenya
The Starlink Standard Kit in Kenya costs KSh 49,900 ($386.07) when purchased directly from the official Starlink website. This package includes the dish, Wi-Fi router, mount, and all required cables. You can easily install it yourself without needing a technician.
For the Starlink Mini Kit, prices vary by seller. While the official price is KSh 27,000 ($208.90), some third-party shops list it between KSh 30,000 ($232.11) and KSh 34,000 ($263.06). A few online retailers price it at about KSh 33,000 ($255.32) before VAT, which becomes roughly KSh 38,280 ($296.17) including VAT.
Both kits purchased from the official Starlink Kenya website usually include shipping and customer support.
Starlink’s monthly data subscription in Nigeria and Kenya
Just like hardware prices, Starlink charges different subscription fees across markets.
Nigeria
The Residential Plan is ideal for homes and small offices and is currently priced at ₦57,000 ($39.29) per month.
For businesses with higher data demands, the Business or Priority Plan is available for ₦159,000 ($109.60) per month. This plan is tailored for multiple users, offices, or locations that require higher capacity.
For those on the move, Roam Plans offer flexible connectivity. The regional Roam Plan is ₦38,000 ($26.19) per month, while advanced or global roaming options can be considerably higher, depending on usage and the region.
Kenya
The Residential Lite Plan is perfect for homes and small offices, with a monthly cost of Ksh 4,000 ($30.95) {unlimited}. For lighter users, a capped 50GB plan is available for Ksh 1,300 ($10.06). For heavier data usage, the Residential Unlimited Plan offers more capacity at Ksh 6,500 ($50.29) per month, ideal for multiple users or offices.
For users who need connectivity on the go, the mini roam plan is available for Ksh 6,500 ($50.29) per month.
Comparing Starlink to 4G and 5G data plans in Nigeria and Kenya
To answer the question of whether Starlink is pricing people out, we need to compare its cost with more conventional internet options: mobile data via 4G or 5G.
Nigeria: Starlink vs MTN/Airtel data plans
MTN and Airtel offer a lot of data plans via their 4G and 5G networks.
Airtel data plans
- Airtel router (Indoor Unit) monthly unlimited: ₦30,000 ($20.68) per month.
- Airtel router (Outdoor Unit) monthly unlimited: ₦25,000 ($17.23) per month.
- Airtel mobile monthly data: ₦8,000 ($8.81) for 25GB.
MTN data plans
- MTN 5G (Hynetflex) monthly data: ₦37,500 ($25.85) for 200GB.
- MTN 5G (Hynetflex) unlimited: ₦45,000 ($31.02) for 260GB and 2GB daily upon exhausting the initial 260GB.
- MTN mobile monthly data: ₦55,000 ($37.91) for 250GB.
Kenya: Starlink vs Safaricom/Faiba (JTL) fixed data plans
Lots of ISPs offer fixed data services in Kenya. Safaricom and Faiba (JTL) lead the pack.
Safaricom monthly unlimited home fibre
- 15 Mbps at KES 2,999 ($23.20).
- 30 Mbps at KES 4,100 ($31.72).
- 80 Mbps at KES 6,299 ($48.74).
- 500 Mbps at KES 12,499 ($96.70).
- 1 Gbps at KES 20,000 ($154.74).
Faiba Home (JTL)
- 35 Mbps for KES 3,000 ($23.21).
- 60 Mbps for KES 4,000 ($30.95).
- 90 Mbps for KES 5,000 ($38.68).
- 150 Mbps for KES 10,000 ($77.37).
- 200 Mbps for KES 15,000 ($116.05).
- 300 Mbps for KES 20,000 ($154.74).
- 1 Gbps for KES 30,000 ($232.11).
Kenya: Starlink vs Safaricom and Airtel 5G
Safaricom and Airtel Kenya offer 5G routers primarily for areas without fixed broadband access. While both providers have rolled out 5G across major towns, routers automatically fall back to 4G when 5G coverage is unavailable.
Safaricom 5G
- 10 Mbps for KES 3,000 ($23.21).
- 50 Mbps for KES 4,000 ($30.95).
- 100 Mbps for KES 5,000 ($38.68).
- 250 Mbps for KES 10,000 ($77.37).
Airtel 5G
- 15 Mbps at KES 3,500 ($27.08).
- 40 Mbps at KES 5,000 ($38.68).
Read: Starlink vs 5G speed test: Which one performs better?
Is Starlink pricing Africans out of the market?
Starlink’s entry into Africa promised to bridge the connectivity gap. Still, an analysis of local costs versus household income confirms that the service is overwhelmingly a premium-only option, effectively pricing out the mass market. The primary challenge across the continent is the upfront hardware cost, not just the monthly fee.
In Kenya, while the introductory KES 1,300 (approx. $10) 50GB plan offers a cheap entry point, the actual barrier remains the dish kit. Even with the newer, cheaper Mini Kit (starting around KES 27,000 or $208.90), this capital expense is too high for the majority of lower-income households. The official unlimited plans cost up to KES 6,500 ($50.29) monthly, placing them firmly in the budget range for high-earning consumers and businesses.
The issue is even more pronounced in Nigeria, where economic instability and high import costs create a steep financial hurdle. The hardware kit can cost up to ₦590,000 ($406.6)and the standard monthly subscription has increased to ₦57,000 ($39.29). When the recurring monthly fee alone equals 81.43 percent of the national minimum wage which is ₦70,000 ($48.25), the service is definitely restricted to a small, wealthy segment of early adopters who can manage the combined barrier of purchase and subscription fees.
This pattern suggests that while Starlink provides a crucial solution for high-speed internet access in remote and underserved areas, its current pricing model prevents it from becoming a genuine engine of digital inclusion, solidifying its status as a high-end service for the African “high-earners.”
