Starlink is gaining renewed momentum in Kenya. The satellite broadband provider reached its highest subscriber count yet — 19,470 active users as of September 2025 — after reopening new residential sign-ups earlier this year. The strong quarter marks a sharp turnaround following stalled growth and user declines caused by a suspension of equipment sales late last year.
Starlink first entered Kenya in mid-2023 and quickly attracted attention from customers seeking high-speed internet in areas underserved by traditional networks. However, demand in Nairobi, Mombasa and other major cities became so intense that Starlink paused new residential activations in December 2024 to reduce network strain. By the time the freeze lifted in June 2025, the customer base had fallen to 17,066 users.
That shift proved temporary. Once urban ordering resumed, subscriber growth returned immediately — rising to 17,425 in June and climbing again to 19,470 by the end of September. Over the July-September quarter alone, Starlink added more than 2,000 users, representing double-digit percentage growth and the strongest quarterly performance since launch. (via TechAfrica)
While the recovery is notable, Starlink still accounts for less than 1% of Kenya’s fixed internet connections. Market leader Safaricom continues to dominate with more than 815,000 subscribers and over one-third of the country’s market share. Jamii Telecommunications, Wananchi Group, and Poa Internet round out the top five providers, driven largely by competitively priced fibre and wireless services concentrated in urban centres.
Cost remains a challenge for Starlink in Kenya. The standard hardware kit is priced at KES 49,900 (C$530/US$388), with monthly subscriptions at KES 6,500 (C$70/US$50). Meanwhile, Safaricom and Airtel are aggressively pushing 5G home routers costing as little as KES 3,000 (C$32/US$23), often paired with discounted installation and bundled streaming offers.
To expand further, Starlink will need to scale network capacity faster, especially in Kenya’s largest cities where user density previously caused congestion. The company has also begun offering Starlink Mini kits in some markets — a more affordable, portable solution — which could help reduce cost barriers when launched broadly.
