‪Safaricom In Talks With Starlink For Potential Partnership, CEO Ndegwa Says‬

Kenya’s leading telecommunications provider Safaricom is open to partnership with Elon Musk’s satellite internet firm—Starlink.

Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa said discussions with Musk’s Starlink are ongoing.

In an article by a US news agency in New York—Bloomberg, the two internet provider firms will collaborate in the future.

“From a satellite perspective, we have to partner with Starlink or other satellite providers in the future to make sure that that technology plays right through,” Ndegwa said in an interview with Bloomberg in New York.

“We have had some discussions, and we will continue to have those discussions to the extent that they complement what we are offering.”

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. 

Powered by SpaceX, Starlink uses a network of satellites in low Earth orbit to deliver high-speed internet with low latency, making it ideal for rural and underserved regions.

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

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.

President William Ruto defended his move to allow Elon Musk’s satellite internet firm—Starlink to enter the Kenyan market, saying the entrance 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 made the mention during the US-Kenya Business and Investment Roundtable in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Billionaire businessman Musk took pride in the crucial role his satellite internet service provider, Starlink, has sparked in Kenya.

“As the President of Kenya says, Starlink causes local competitors to provide better services,” he concurred with Ruto’s sentiments.

The tech titan was in attendance at the UNGA, where he mingled with several leaders, including Africa’s heads of state.I’m