Musk Introduces Cheaper Starlink Mini In Kenya

Kenyans nationwide can now access Starlink Mini for cheaper internet connectivity.

In a statement on X, Starlink said that Kenyans nationwide can access the mini Starlink.

“Starlink Mini is now available in Kenya! Stay connected with high-speed internet at home or on the go,” the statement read.

The price of the Starlink Mini kit in Kenya is set at Sh27,000 with a monthly payment starting from Sh1,300.

The standard kit is currently priced at Sh45,000.

Currently, Starlink offers a competitive 50-gigabyte data package in Kenya priced at Sh1,300 at fixed residential locations across the country.

This translates to Sh26 per GB with a speed of up to 220 Mbps, way lower than the country’s average price of Sh76.20 and over 20 times faster than the average internet speed of 9.78 Mbps, according to the Communication Authority.

Compared to the existing competitors such as Safaricom, Telkom, Faiba, and Zuku who rely on fibre-optic technology, Starlink relies on satellites in space that orbit around the earth and then transmit signals to internet modems at home or offices.

This gives Starlink an edge over its competitors, as satellite internet comes in handy in rural areas where penetration of cable or fibre optic is either limited or completely unavailable.

Starlink was introduced into the Kenyan market in July 2023. It offers high speed and coverage to remote areas where local internet service providers may not reach. 

President William Ruto defended his move to allow Elon Musk’s satellite internet firm—Starlink to enter the Kenyan market.

The President said that the entrance of Starlink to the market has created competition in the country.

“I have my CEO for Safaricom here, sometimes he is not happy with me for bringing in some other characters like Elon Musk and others in the space,” the President said.

“But you see, I keep encouraging Peter that competition helps you keep ahead, and he has been doing good; I must say he has upped his game, so we want to keep that space competitive.”

The president was speaking at the Kenya Business and Investment Roundtable in New York.

Safaricom has over the years been Kenya’s leading telecommunications provider.

Safaricom and Starlink are set to face off in Kenya’s competitive internet market as both companies expand their services to cater to the growing demand for high-speed connectivity.

Safaricom has for the second time increased its data speeds in the wake of increasing competition.

In its latest move, Safaricom has increased internet speeds for its home and business customers to meet the growing needs of individual and enterprise customers.

For Home Fibre, Safaricom has also introduced a new ultra-fast 1000 Mbps (gigabit per second) Platinum plan that will now see businesses part with Sh20,000 monthly.