Latest data from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) indicates a significant surge in satellite internet users within the country over the last three months leading up to December last year. During this period, the number of satellite internet users more than doubled, climbing from 1,354 in the preceding three months to 2,933 by the end of December. This remarkable increase correlates with the introduction of satellite internet provider Starlink into the Kenyan market in July.
The data further highlights that 92 percent of users are experiencing internet speeds ranging between 100 megabytes per second (Mbps) and 1 gigabyte per second (Gbps), a notable advancement compared to similar periods in 2022 following Starlink’s entry, where such speeds were nonexistent. Starlink, owned by billionaire Elon Musk and operated by SpaceX, revolutionizes internet connectivity through its constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. This innovative approach offers high-speed, low-latency internet access, enabling services previously unattainable with conventional satellite technology.
With a global subscriber base surpassing 1.5 million users, Starlink asserts its pivotal role in reshaping the global internet connectivity landscape. Unlike traditional providers such as Safaricom, Zuku, and Telkom, which rely predominantly on underground cable and Wi-Fi connections, Starlink delivers internet services through satellite connections, ensuring enhanced reliability and broader coverage, particularly in remote regions lacking fiber optic infrastructure.
Users access Starlink’s internet via phased-array user terminals, colloquially known as satellite dishes, strategically positioned at their locations. These dishes autonomously align with passing satellites, facilitating uninterrupted and stable internet connectivity. Upon its launch in Kenya, Starlink partnered with Karibu Connect, a leading provider of internet connectivity solutions in East Africa, as its inaugural authorized reseller.
Karibu Connect, in its announcement, expressed its commitment to extending Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency connectivity to various sectors in rural Kenya, including small businesses, industry, telecommunications, education, tourism, hospitality, maritime, and government organizations. Additionally, the company unveiled plans to offer Starlink enterprise services catering to both fixed and mobile applications, including vehicle-mounted solutions suitable for on-the-go usage or deployment on boats and ships, whether operating inland or offshore.
