Elon Musk’s internet company, Starlink, is currently facing serious challenges in Kenya, just less than two years after launching operations in the country. Starlink, which uses satellites to deliver internet, entered the Kenyan market in July 2023 with promises of fast and reliable internet, especially for people living in rural and hard-to-reach areas. In its first year, the service became popular and got over 8,000 customers, grabbing about 0.5 percent of the Kenyan internet market. Many people were attracted by Starlink’s competitive prices and its ability to deliver internet in places where traditional providers found it difficult.
However, recent reports show that Starlink’s internet speed is dropping. Users have started complaining that the service is no longer as fast as it was when it first arrived. The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) confirmed that average internet speeds across Kenya have improved, rising from 9.78 Mbps in January 2024 to 11.59 Mbps by October 2024. But despite this overall improvement, many Starlink users are not happy. They are complaining about high latency, which means a delay in sending and receiving data. This is affecting online games, video calls, and other services that require fast connections.
Some users have said that the problem might be because Starlink is directing their internet traffic through Lagos, Nigeria, instead of routing it locally within Kenya. This long route is believed to be one of the reasons for the increased delays in internet speed. The problem has become worse in busy towns like Nairobi, Kiambu, and Machakos, where the number of Starlink users keeps increasing. To avoid making the experience worse for its current customers, Starlink has temporarily stopped accepting new customers in those areas. The company said it is working to increase capacity and improve service.
Starlink’s arrival in Kenya has also increased competition in the internet market. Safaricom, the country’s biggest telecom company, quickly responded by expanding its 5G services to all 47 counties in Kenya. The company also built over 1,000 new network sites to provide faster internet. To keep its customers, Safaricom improved its home fibre internet services. Other telecom companies such as Vodacom and Orange have also reacted. Both firms started working together to make their services cheaper and to reach more rural communities in Africa. Vodacom and MTN also announced that they are planning to start direct-to-cell satellite services.
One major issue causing tension in the market is pricing. Jamii Telecommunications Limited, the second-biggest internet provider in Kenya, accused Starlink of using unfair pricing methods. Jamii said Starlink was offering its services below normal cost to attract customers away from local providers. Because of this, the Communications Authority of Kenya is now looking into new rules. The authority wants satellite internet companies to pay more for licenses and to give a part of their annual income to the government.
To make its services more affordable, Starlink introduced a new rental option. Now, instead of buying the equipment at once, customers can pay a one-time activation fee and a monthly rental charge. This is expected to help more people who cannot afford to buy the full equipment upfront.
Kenyan President William Ruto also commented on the situation. He said the entry of Starlink into the market has forced local internet providers to improve their services. According to him, the competition is good for the public because it pushes companies to do better.
Starlink is now working on solving the issues it is facing in Kenya. As the company tries to fix problems like network congestion and regulatory concerns, many people are watching to see how it will handle the pressure and whether it can continue growing in the East African internet market.
