Kenyans throughout the country can now enjoy access to Starlink Mini, a cheaper and instant internet connectivity.
Confirming the news with a statement on their official X account, Starlink said its all systems go for Kenyans nationwide.
“Starlink Mini is now available in Kenya! Stay connected with high-speed internet at home or on the go,” the statement read.
Differences between Starlink Mini and Starlink Standard
Starlink Mini is compact, portable, and recommended for basic internet applications.
It covers up to 112 m² (1,200 ft²) and its compact design and low power consumption make it ideal for fixed and portable use.
Starlink Standard is recommended for high-demand everyday internet applications.
The kit covers up to 297 m² (3,200 ft²) and can endure extreme weather and environmental elements. Its high speeds make it ideal for streaming, video calls, and gaming.
The price of the Starlink Mini kit in Kenya is KSh27,000 with a monthly payment starting from KSh1,300.
The standard kit is currently priced at KSh45,000.
Currently, Starlink offers a competitive 50GB data package in Kenya priced at KSh1,300 at fixed residential locations across the country.
According to the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK), this translates to KSh26/GB with a speed of up to 220 Mbps. Starlink is Kshs50 cheaper than the country’s average (Kshs 76.5) and over 20 times faster than the average internet speed of 9.78 Mbps.
Safaricom sensing a face-off, has increased its data speeds for the second time in the wake of competition and to meet the growing needs of individual and enterprise customers. It has also introduced a new ultra-fast 1000 Mbps (1GB/sec) Platinum plan for businesses at Sh20,000 monthly.
Ruto Welcomes The Move
Ruto has backed up Starlink’s entry saying that competition with Safaricom and other service providers. He says it will ensure Kenyans get quality services and value for their money.
He further asked local internet service providers to embrace the new competition and improve their services to Kenyans.
Speaking during his tour of the United States (US) on Tuesday, September 24, Ruto confirmed he giving SpaceX subsidiary, the green light to operate in Kenya.
“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.”
“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.”
Ruto was speaking at the Kenya Business and Investment Roundtable in New York.
Musk in return, expressed satisfaction with the significant impact the satellite internet service provider has had in Kenya for the last year.
Starlink’s Entry To Kenya
Starlink entered the Kenyan market in July 2023. Since then, it has given local internet service providers a run for their money.
Compared to the local existing competitors who rely on fiber-optic technology, Starlink relies on satellites in space that orbit around the earth and transmit signals to internet modems at home or offices. Satellite internet comes in handy in rural areas where penetration of cable or fiber optic is either limited or completely unavailable.
