Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider Starlink has finally regained the subscriptions it lost in Kenya when its capacity was strained, but it has yet to reclaim the market share it shed amid stiff competition from local firms.
In the quarter to September, Starlink added 2,045 new subscriptions, raising its total user base to 19,470 and surpassing the previous peak of 19,146 recorded in December 2024, which had given it a 1.1 percent share of Kenya’s fixed internet market.
Although this marks the fastest positive growth Starlink has reported in Kenya since January, the rebound has not lifted its market share, which had slipped to 0.8 percent in June after six consecutive months of declining subscriber numbers.
Data from the Communications Authority of Kenya shows that Starlink’s share of the fixed internet market stagnated at 0.8 percent in the quarter to September, tying with Vijiji Connect, as some local competitors expanded their presence.
Market leader, Safaricom, added 79,288 fixed internet customers during the period, raising its market share to 35.6 percent from 34.3 percent in June.
Others, including Jamii Telecoms (Faiba), Ahadi Wireless, Vilcom Network, and Mawingu, also significantly increased their subscriber numbers, strengthening their market positions and posing stiff competition to Starlink, which had disrupted the Kenyan internet market upon entry.
Overall, total fixed internet subscriptions in Kenya rose by 147,150 in the three months to September, from 2.14 million to 2.29 million, but more than half of the new customers joined Safaricom, with Starlink accounting for just 1.4 percent of the additions.
Starlink initially recorded rapid growth after entering the Kenyan market, claiming 0.5 percent market share by September 2024, and doubling it within three months.
However, this swift expansion strained its capacity, forcing the firm to pause new sign-ups in November 2024, not only in Kenya but also in other fast-growing African markets, including Nigeria and South Sudan.
With capacity stretched, Starlink’s browsing speeds in Kenya dropped to around 45 megabits per second (Mbps) from highs of over 200 Mbps when the firm launched in July 2023. The pause in new sign-ups, coupled with the sharp decline in speeds, caused the company to lose subscribers and market share.
In the quarter to March, Starlink’s users fell by over 2,000, while its market share dropped by 0.2 percentage points to 0.9 percent. In the quarter to June, its user base grew marginally by around 400, but its market share slipped further to 0.8 percent amid stiff competition from local players.
Meanwhile, the satellite internet segment has attracted new entrants, including Safaricom, which has partnered with Starlink as a reseller of its satellite internet in Kenya.
