Following its successful rollout in Nigeria earlier this month, Starlink, the satellite Internet service provided by SpaceX, the space exploration company owned by the world’s second-richest man, Elon Musk, has revealed plans to launch in Kenya in the second quarter of this year.
The service, which will be available in key cities like Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, and Nakuru, is expected to disrupt local telecom operators and internet service providers. According to a statement released by Starlink, the launch is “pending service coverage or regulatory approval.”
Kenyans can now pre-order the Starlink installation kits with an initial deposit of Ksh12,260 ($99). The company states on its website: “Order now to reserve your Starlink. Starlink is targeting service in your area starting in Q2 2023. Availability is subject to regulatory approval. Within each coverage area, orders are fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis.”
Starlink provides high-speed, low-latency broadband Internet through a constellation of satellites orbiting the Earth. The service has the potential to provide much-needed connectivity to millions of people across the country, including those in remote and underserved areas.
Starlink officially launched in Africa earlier this year, with Musk claiming that the satellite Internet service provider will operate anywhere on Earth where it is legally permitted to do so.
The satellite broadband service is now available across all seven continents, following a test in Antarctica, with the purpose of delivering better bandwidth and connectivity to scientists in the U.S. Antarctic Program.
Earlier this month, the satellite internet service rolled out its service in Nigeria after entering a partnership with the Nigerian government. The rollout came seven months after the Nigerian Communications Commission granted the company an Internet Service Provider (ISP) license.
SpaceX also plans to launch its satellite Internet service in Tanzania in the first quarter of 2023, subject to regulatory approval. The service will be available in Dar es Salaam, the capital city of Tanzania, and four other cities across the country.
Valued at $137 billion in its latest funding round, SpaceX is just one of the many ventures owned and managed by Musk. The American billionaire is also the owner of Twitter and the CEO of the electric vehicle company Tesla.
