The Nairobi City County Government has made significant strides in improving service delivery by implementing a backup internet link powered by Starlink satellite technology.
This development is set to transform customer experience at City Hall’s Customer Service Centre, which now enjoys internet speeds ranging between 120 Mbps and 200 Mbps.
Tiras Njoroge, the Chief Officer for ICT Infrastructure, emphasized the importance of this new network redundancy.
He stated that it would ensure continuous operation of essential customer services, even in the event of primary network failures. This measure is expected to provide a seamless and uninterrupted experience for county residents who rely on the county’s digital services.
“We are excited to announce the integration of Starlink satellite technology into our Customer Service Centre, aimed at enhancing and improving service delivery to the residents of Nairobi,” Njoroge said. “This upgrade will provide seamless, high-speed connectivity, allowing for faster and more reliable access to the Nairobi Pay system.”
Supporting the County’s Digital Transformation Goals
The implementation of Starlink at City Hall aligns with Governor Johnson Sakaja’s manifesto, which prioritizes the use of advanced technology to streamline government operations.
By introducing such infrastructure, the County Government is not only ensuring better service delivery but also advancing its ambitious plans to digitize more of its services.
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Truphena Ogonda, the County Director of ICT Infrastructure, expressed her enthusiasm for the enhancement, highlighting that the redundancy will allow them to handle larger volumes of data efficiently. “This will ensure we can deliver on ambitious plans for expanding e-government services and strengthening our shift toward fully digital service provision,” Ogonda remarked.
Starlink’s Growing Presence in Kenya
Starlink is becoming an increasingly popular choice as its offerings continue to provide quality internet access to all. This growing popularity is evident from the country’s rapid growth of Starlink subscribers.
Recent data released by the Communication Authority of Kenya supports this impressive trend. When Starlink launched in July 2023, it had only 405 subscribers in Kenya. However, the service quickly gained traction among Kenyan internet users.
Just two months after its launch, the number of subscribers more than tripled to 1,354, demonstrating the strong demand for reliable, high-speed internet access across the country.
Also Read: You can now rent the Starlink kit for KES 1,950 a month
The growth has continued at a remarkable pace. As of March 2024, the number of satellite internet users in Kenya has skyrocketed to 4,808.
There are also growing speculations that Starlink is preparing to establish its first ground station in Kenya. Ground station antennas and equipment have been spotted in the country, fueling rumors of an imminent setup.
A Starlink ground station, also known as a “Starlink gateway” or “teleport,” plays a vital role in reducing latency, which refers to the delay between sending a data request and receiving a response.
If a ground station is deployed in Kenya, Starlink users will likely experience significant improvements in their latency, which has been a point of concern since Starlink’s launch in the country, as the nearest ground station is currently located in Nigeria.
