Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, surged to become Kenya’s seventh-largest internet service provider (ISP) in just six months, surpassing established local competitors such as Dimension Data and Liquid Telecommunications Kenya.

This achievement marked a significant shift in the country’s broadband landscape. According to the latest data from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), Starlink accumulated 19,146 users, a notable increase from 16,786 three months earlier.

This allowed the company to capture roughly 1.1% of Kenya’s internet market. Although Starlink still trailed the market leaders, Safaricom and Jamii Telecommunications, its rapid growth signalled an emerging trend of increasing satellite service adoption, particularly in areas where traditional fibre and fixed wireless networks have struggled to provide reliable connectivity.

The company’s swift expansion in Kenya has further contributed to the overall rise of satellite internet across the country. Other satellite providers, such as Viasat, Indigo Telecom, and NTvsat, together serve only 257 customers, underlining Starlink’s dominance in this niche segment.

However, the company’s fast-paced growth has drawn considerable attention from regulators. Local ISPs, including Safaricom and Airtel Kenya, expressed concerns over the potential market distortion caused by Starlink’s rise. In response, the CA announced plans to raise satellite license fees substantially, from $12,302 to $115,331, while also introducing a 0.4% levy on annual turnover. These regulatory measures could pose challenges to Starlink’s ongoing expansion within the region.

Despite the regulatory pressures, Starlink strengthened its position in Kenya through the development of local infrastructure and competitive pricing strategies. In December 2024, the company unveiled a ground station in Nairobi, which successfully reduced latency from 120 milliseconds to just 26 milliseconds, significantly improving the quality of its service.

Starlink also employed aggressive pricing tactics, such as a temporary promotion that lowered installation kit prices, a $10 50GB data plan, and options for hardware rentals. In addition, the company announced plans for 2025 to deploy satellites capable of connecting directly to mobile devices, eliminating the need for hardware kits and intensifying competition with traditional telecom operators.

Despite these advancements, Starlink remained a minor player in Kenya’s internet market, holding only a 1.1% market share compared to Safaricom’s dominant 36.1% and Jamii Telecommunications’ 23.6%.

To challenge Kenya’s leading internet providers effectively, Starlink would need to devise further strategies to expand its presence and customer base.