Elon Musk-owned, Starlink has introduced an instalment payment option for its portable mini internet kit in Kenya, lowering the upfront cost for customers as the satellite internet firm seeks to drive subscriptions in a market where uptake has recently shown volatility.
Under the new plan, subscribers will pay Sh6,750 at purchase for the mini kit, alongside a mandatory activation charge of Sh16,250 as well as shipping and handling fees of Sh3,010, before spreading the remaining hardware cost over six monthly instalments.
Customers on the plan will make monthly payments of Sh4,500 towards the kit for six months, in addition to the standard Sh6,500 monthly internet subscription fee charged for residential users.
The mini kit ordinarily retails at Sh27,000, meaning the new structure significantly reduces the upfront cash required to access Starlink’s hardware, shifting more of the cost burden into recurring payments.
The move comes as Starlink intensifies efforts to expand its subscriber base in Kenya following fluctuations in its market share in recent months, amid stiff competition from established terrestrial internet providers.
Starlink’s mini kit was introduced into the Kenyan market in September 2024, slightly over a year after the firm made its local debut, as part of a broader push to make its satellite internet service more accessible to price-sensitive users.
At launch, the mini package was positioned as a cheaper and portable alternative to the standard installation kit, with Starlink highlighting its suitability for basic internet needs and mobile use. A spot check on Starlink’s official website at the time shows that the mini hardware kit is priced at Sh27,000, substantially lower than the Sh49,900 price tag attached to the pre-existing standard kit.
While introduction of the mini kit offered a lower entry price, monthly service fees remained unchanged across Starlink’s packages, with residential subscriptions priced at Sh6,500 and the limited 50GB package at Sh1,300. Starlink has previously described the mini kit as compact, portable, and designed for basic internet applications, covering up to 112 square metres and capable of connecting up to 128 devices.
By comparison, the standard Starlink kit supports up to 235 devices and covers up to 297 square metres, making it more suitable for high-demand, fixed-location internet use.
The instalment option adds to a series of pricing and access adjustments Starlink has rolled out in Kenya as it seeks to deepen penetration beyond early adopters and high-income users.
Starlink entered the Kenyan market in July 2023 with its installation kit priced at Sh89,000, a level that proved a hard sell.
The firm later cut the price of the standard kit to Sh45,500 in 2024, alongside introducing lower-cost data options such as the 50GB monthly package priced at a monthly rate of Sh1,300.
In June of the same year, Starlink also rolled out a rental option for its hardware kit at a monthly rate of Sh1,950, allowing users to access the service without incurring the full upfront cost of purchasing equipment.
The combination of price cuts, smaller data packages, rentals and now instalment payments points to an aggressive effort by the Elon Musk-owned firm to entrench itself in Kenya’s internet market.
Safaricom controls a 35.6 percent market share as of the close of September last year, with Starlink holding a 0.8 percent share, according to regulatory data.
