Starlink has introduced a more affordable kit and a monthly residential plan priced at KES 4,500 ($30.87) in Kenya, just days after Safaricom enhanced its fiber internet speeds to compete with the growing presence of the Elon Musk-owned satellite internet provider.
The new Starlink Mini, available for KES 27,000 ($208.38), offers speeds of up to 100 Mbps, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious users. Starlink first entered the Kenyan market in July 2023 with a kit priced at KES 45,000 ($347.25).
With the introduction of the Starlink Residential Lite plan, competition for subscribers in Kenya is expected to intensify as consumers demand faster and more affordable internet solutions. Additionally, Starlink introduced a $15 monthly kit rental plan in August.
In response to Starlink’s growing popularity, Safaricom, Kenya’s leading internet service provider, boosted its internet speeds earlier this week.
The 10 Mbps package was upgraded to 15 Mbps for KES 3,000 ($23), while the 20 Mbps plan increased to 30 Mbps. Speeds for 40 Mbps users were doubled, and the 100 Mbps package saw a fivefold increase. Safaricom also launched a 1 Gbps package at KES 20,000 ($155) for high-demand users.
Safaricom has expressed concerns over Starlink’s market dominance and has advocated for the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) to regulate satellite ISPs. Safaricom holds a 36.7% share of the data market and manages 14,000 km of fiber optic cable, serving approximately 400,000 customers.