(Nairobi) – Starlink, the satellite internet service provider, has suspended new residential and roaming subscriptions in several Kenyan cities due to overcapacity in its bandwidth. The cities affected include Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Narok, Murang’a, and Nakuru. The company stated that the rapid rise in demand for its service has caused a strain on its ability to provide high-quality internet to existing subscribers in these metropolitan areas.
According to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), Starlink has seen a significant increase in its subscriber base, with over 8,000 new customers joining in the past year. This surge in demand is attributed to Starlink’s promise of fast internet speeds and reliable connectivity, which is particularly attractive in urban areas with high internet usage.
The company operates its service using satellites in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), a technology that can experience congestion when too many users in a given area access the network at once. As a result, some customers in densely populated regions are facing challenges with service reliability.
Elon Musk, CEO of Starlink, assured African customers that the company is working to increase network capacity in major urban areas to better handle the growing demand. Musk made the announcement through a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he emphasized that efforts are underway to boost service in these areas. However, the company noted that capacity in rural regions remains stable.
In addition to demand for internet services, Starlink is also facing challenges with the availability of its hardware kits. Across various cities in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, the demand for Starlink kits is surpassing supply. In Madagascar, customers will have to wait until 2025 for availability.
Starlink was initially designed to provide internet solutions to low-density rural areas where traditional internet services like fibre optics and broadband can be costly and inefficient. Although the company faced initial challenges with high hardware costs, it introduced a more affordable rental option for the kits (KSh 1,950 per month) and launched a smaller, less expensive version of its satellite kit – Starlink mini. These changes have allowed more customers to access the service.
Table: Starlink Subscription and Kit Demand in African Cities
| Country | Affected Cities/Regions | Current Subscription Status | Estimated Wait Time for Kits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Narok, Murang’a, Nakuru | Subscriptions paused due to overcapacity | High demand, limited availability |
| Nigeria | Major cities across the country | Growing demand, subscription limitations | Kits outpacing supply |
| Zimbabwe | Urban areas | Similar demand surge | Shortage of kits |
| Madagascar | Nationwide | Not yet available | Waiting until 2025 |