The number of Kenyans using satellite internet more than doubled in the three months leading up to December last year, following the introduction of Elon Musk's satellite internet company, Starlink, into the Kenyan market in July.
Data from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) indicates that satellite internet users increased from 1,354 in the three months to September last year to 2,933 in the quarter ending December. This surge in users came after Starlink launched its services in Kenya, marking a significant uptick in adoption of a service that was previously dominated by large corporations and niche users.
Satellite internet, which employs space satellites to deliver internet connectivity, is particularly beneficial in remote areas where traditional terrestrial providers like cable or fixed wireless links are unavailable.
Starlink's focus on remote regions, where competition is less intense, has paid off. Despite initial doubts from experts regarding its high initial and subscription fees, Starlink has received an enthusiastic reception in Kenya.
The entry of Starlink also seems to have shifted the landscape of satellite internet usage towards higher speeds, with 92% of users now experiencing speeds between 100 megabytes per second (Mbps) and 1 gigabyte per second (Gbps). This is a significant change from zero users experiencing such speeds in a similar period in 2022.
The increase in satellite internet users has also boosted the country's satellite internet capacity by 4.9%, reaching 0.448 Gbps. Additionally, the market share of 'other' fixed internet service providers, including Starlink, has risen by one percentage point to 1.8%.
While Starlink has made a notable impact, it is not the only satellite internet service provider in Kenya. Other providers include Vizocom, Telkom's Skynet, NTvsat, and Globaltt, with Safaricom also expressing interest in entering the market.
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