Starlink has indicated that they have paused new subscriptions in Nairobi, and the counties of Kiambu, Machakos, Narok, Murang’a, and Nakuru due to high demand which is straining its network capacity.
Starlink indicated that its network capacity could not support additional customers which raises questions about its capacity to scale in densely populated urban areas.
The statement by Starlink had this to say, “Nairobi and neighboring areas are currently at network capacity. This means that too many users are trying to access the Starlink service within Nairobi, and there isn’t enough bandwidth to support additional residential or roaming customers now. Starlink is working to restore service in the disrupted areas and a notification will be sent once the residential plan is back.
Since its launch in Kenya in July 2023, the number of Starlink users has grown more than tenfold, driven by promotions on kits and cheaper monthly plans. For instance, in August, the company introduced a $15.15 (KES1,950) monthly kit rental plan for users who can’t afford to buy the hardware, which costs $350 (KES 45,000).
Starlink’s expansion, which offers faster speeds and relatively lower prices, has upset local ISPs like Safaricom. On July 15, Safaricom asked the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to assess the risks of allowing satellite internet providers to operate without an agreement with local companies.
Safaricom has also been pressuring the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) to block satellite ISPs like Starlink, highlighting the threat to the firm’s dominance in Kenya’s broadband market.
Safaricom, which plans to launch a satellite internet service, has a firm grip on the data market, with a 36.7% market share. It has 14,000km of fibre optic cable connecting about 400,000 customers.