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Satellite internet service now available in Kenya - Elon Musk

Elon Musk said buying a Starlink with global roaming allows one to travel almost anywhere

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by MELINDA KIRWA

Sasa18 July 2023 - 15:20
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In Summary


  • • To get the Starlink hardware, a user will part with Sh89,000, another Sh 3,100 for shipping and handling and a fee of Sh 6,500 per month for the service.
  • • One needs to, however, key in contact information as well as the shipping address and update it to get the total  amount.
Elon Musk’s Starlink goes into Africa’s Internet market orbit

Apart from Mozambique, Nigeria, and Rwanda, Starlink has announced that the service is now available in Kenya.

In January this year, the satellite internet service announced plans to venture into the Kenyan market with the launch expected in Q2 2023.

The company powered by SpaceX said it was awaiting service coverage and regulatory approval.

In a retweet by the Starlink boss on the announcement that was made on Starlink’s Twitter account, Elon Musk confirmed the availability of satellite internet service in the country.

“Note, buying a Starlink with global roaming allows you to travel almost anywhere,” he tweeted.

This means that a user who purchases a Starlink kit with global roaming capability gets to access internet services when travelling to different locations around the world.

One can place an order through Starlink’s official website.

While on the home page, you can input your service address and click, ‘Order now.’

The page redirects you to a different page and, here, you will be able to see if the service is available in their area using inter-satellite links.

“You can expect Starlink’s typical high-speed internet with brief periods of intermittent service and high latency,” the order page read.

“Users will be able to engage in common internet activity like email, online shopping, or streaming a movie.”

It is, however, important to note that users won’t be able to engage in activities like online gaming or video calls.

“Service will improve dramatically over the next year,” the order page read.

Orders are expected to begin shipping in two to three weeks.

To get the Starlink hardware, a user will part with Sh89,000, another Sh3,100 for shipping and handling and a fee of Sh 6,500 per month for the service.

One needs to, however, key in contact information as well as the shipping address and update it to get the total amount.

Thereafter, you can place your order.

The Starlink kit comes equipped with a Starlink dish, mounting tripod, WiFi router, power supply and cables. 

In their initial announcement early this year, Starlink said its target areas include Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa and Nakuru all of which services would be made available from mid this year.

The company's entry into Kenya is going to pose new competition to local internet service providers such as Faiba, Safaricom and Zuku.

"Starlink's global roaming capability development is likely to bring increased connectivity options and improved internet access to users in Kenya as it is offering them the ability to stay connected regardless of their location," one Twitter user said.

According to SpaceX's interactive coverage map, Starlink is already available in 54 countries around the world, providing service to over one million active customers.

The firm's target market is primarily customers who struggle to access the internet through traditional landlines.

The service aims at reaching such customers by using satellites to send signals rather than relying on fibre optic cables.

Since its launch in 2019, the company has launched 4,368 satellites into low-Earth orbit.

The low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites have the capacity to provide high-speed internet services of up to 150Mbps.

The company offers several mounting options for the exterior of your home as well as a Starlink app for Android and iOS operating systems which uses augmented reality to help customers pick the best location and position for their receivers. 

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