Starlink, the satellite internet service launched by SpaceX, has suspended new subscriptions in Nairobi and surrounding counties—including Kiambu, Machakos, Narok, Murang’a, and Nakuru—citing an “overload in network capacity.”
Since its Kenyan debut in July 2023, Starlink has rapidly gained popularity due to its high-speed, competitively priced internet services. However, the surge in demand has now outpaced available network resources, leading the company to limit new residential and roaming subscriptions in these areas.
Starlink, which relies on a network of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, offers global coverage with low latency but faces potential congestion issues when demand spikes in specific regions.
According to the company’s website, the high interest in urban and peri-urban areas around Nairobi has caused strain on its bandwidth, posing challenges in maintaining service quality for current users.
Kenya’s limited high-speed internet infrastructure has made Starlink particularly attractive, especially in underserved regions. The Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) reports that Starlink now ranks as the country’s tenth-largest ISP, with over 8,000 subscribers. Yet, the rapid adoption in densely populated areas has exceeded initial capacity estimates, necessitating this temporary pause on new subscriptions.
The suspension underscores Starlink’s growing role in expanding internet access across Kenya, while also highlighting the challenges of scaling satellite internet in rapidly growing urban markets.