Starlink has recently announced a halt on new subscriptions in Nairobi, Kenya, and five surrounding regions—Kiambu, Machakos, Narok, Murang’a, and Nakuru.
The move comes as a response to an overwhelming demand that has stretched the company’s network capacity to its limits.
In a statement, Starlink clarified that its network in Nairobi and neighboring areas has reached full capacity, meaning there isn’t enough bandwidth to support additional customers at this time.
“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,” the company explained.
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Starlink assured customers that they are actively working to restore service in the affected regions and would notify users as soon as the residential plan becomes available again.
Elon Musk’s Response on Social Media
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, addressed the issue on X (formerly Twitter), affirming Starlink’s commitment to expanding its network capacity in Africa’s densely populated urban centers as quickly as possible.
Musk added that while capacity is currently limited within urban limits, there remains adequate bandwidth available outside the urban core, allowing rural users to continue enjoying the satellite internet service without interruption.
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Since its launch in Kenya in July 2023, Starlink has experienced a remarkable surge in users, expanding more than tenfold within months.
Promotions, including lower-cost kit rental options introduced in August, have contributed to this rapid growth.
The company offered a $15.15 (KES 1,950) monthly kit rental for users unable to purchase the full $350 (KES 45,000) hardware package upfront, making Starlink accessible to a broader user base.
Starlink’s Market Disruption in Kenya’s ISP Sector
Starlink’s aggressive growth strategy has propelled it to become Kenya’s tenth-largest Internet Service Provider (ISP) just a year after its launch.
This rise puts Starlink on par with well-established ISPs, including Vijiji Connect, which entered the Kenyan market in 2020.
In response to Starlink’s growing footprint, Safaricom, Kenya’s leading telecom provider, raised concerns with the Communications Authority (CA) in August 2024.
Safaricom called for a review of licensing policies for independent ISPs, warning that unregulated licensing could lead to illegal connections and possible interference with existing mobile networks.
The company further suggested that the CA should consider blocking satellite ISPs operating in multiple countries from expanding within Kenya, a policy that could potentially restrict Starlink’s operations.
