Starlink reinstates subscription services in Nairobi following a prolonged 7-month halt
Starlink, the satellite internet service provider, has faced significant challenges in Kenya, a country it entered with much promise in July 2023. Despite a rapid growth in subscribers, the company has struggled to maintain its market position due to network overloads, regulatory issues, and competition from local internet service providers (ISPs).
By the end of 2024, Starlink had no local office in Kenya, handling everything online, which can be frustrating for customers dealing with delays. This approach, combined with a surge in demand, led to a freeze on new Starlink activations in Kenya, which began in late 2024. The freeze, aimed at managing capacity constraints, resulted in a 10.9% drop in subscribers by March 2025, reducing the active user base to about 17,066.
Initially, Starlink's competitive pricing and rental option for hardware boosted its subscriber base from 8,063 in mid-2024 to 19,146 by the end of 2024. However, the average internet speeds in Kenya dropped significantly—from initial speeds over 200 Mbps at launch to around 47 Mbps, placing it among the slowest in Africa. In response, Starlink reportedly increased its bandwidth in Kenya by 32.7% by the end of March 2025, raising total satellite internet capacity from 34 million Gbps to 45 million Gbps.
Regulatory issues have not been elaborated on, but the enforced subscription freeze and mention of halting new sign-ups in other African countries suggest operational challenges possibly linked to compliance or infrastructure limitations. Meanwhile, local ISPs like Airtel and Safaricom are capitalizing on Starlink's weakened position. For instance, Safaricom is offering cheaper 5G routers with plans starting at KES 4,000 ($31), targeting urban and peri-urban customers with decent mobile coverage.
User experiences have generally reflected frustrations with slower speeds and service interruptions, which undercut Starlink’s early reputation for high-speed, low-latency satellite internet. The decline in subscribers also aligns with broader market trends where other satellite and fiber providers are losing customers due to unreliable connections, high prices, and poor customer service.
In a bid to expand its reach, Starlink has partnered with Airtel for rural expansion, using Airtel's satellite backhaul. However, Starlink's hardware costs KES 30,000 ($232) and monthly plans cost KES 6,500 ($50), which is more expensive than Safaricom's offerings. Despite these challenges, Starlink currently has over 19,000 active users in Kenya, making it the seventh-largest ISP in the country.
The market for internet service providers in Kenya is shifting towards hybrid models that combine fibre, mobile, and satellite connections. This trend, coupled with the struggles of Starlink, presents an opportunity for local ISPs to regain market share.
Sources: [1] Techweez. (2023). Starlink satellite internet is now available in Kenya. Retrieved from https://techweez.com/2023/07/starlink-satellite-internet-is-now-available-in-kenya/ [2] Techweez. (2025). Starlink internet speeds in Kenya drop significantly amid subscription freeze. Retrieved from https://techweez.com/2025/03/starlink-internet-speeds-in-kenya-drop-significantly-amid-subscription-freeze/ [4] Techweez. (2025). Starlink struggles to maintain market share in Kenya as local providers capitalize. Retrieved from https://techweez.com/2025/03/starlink-struggles-to-maintain-market-share-in-kenya-as-local-providers-capitalize/ [5] Techweez. (2023). Starlink's rapid growth in Kenya faces regulatory challenges. Retrieved from https://techweez.com/2023/08/starlinks-rapid-growth-in-kenya-faces-regulatory-challenges/
A mobile strategy could be adopted by Starlink to address their market challenges in Kenya, leveraging advancements in space-and-astronomy technology to optimize their satellite internet service for the largely mobile-centric African market. To stay competitive, Starlink might consider partnering with mobile network operators to integrate their service into affordable mobile packages, thereby leveraging the existing mobile infrastructure in Kenya and adopting a hybrid model like the one gaining popularity in the Kenyan market.
Technology advancements in space-and-astronomy could provide Starlink with an opportunity to improve their service and regain market share, potentially offering faster and more reliable internet connections that can compete with the mobile networks in Kenya. Investing in research and development to minimize delays, enhance bandwidth, and optimize for mobile usage could position Starlink for long-term success in Kenya's evolving ISP landscape.
