The network latency on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service in Kenya fell sharply in 2025 following the activation of local network infrastructure, significantly improving the user experience.
Latency refers to the time it takes for data to travel from one point on a network to another.
According to speed-test data from US-based network intelligence firm Ookla, latency on Starlink’s network in Kenya dropped by 87 percent after the company deployed a local point of presence (PoP) in Nairobi in January 2025.
Latency, typically measured in milliseconds (ms), strongly affects the responsiveness of digital activities such as video conferencing, online gaming and streaming. Lower latency improves the quality of real-time services, while high latency can result in delays, buffering and slow page loads.
In 2025, latency for Starlink users in Kenya improved from 296ms at the beginning of the year to an average of 39ms — one of the sharpest reductions recorded on the Starlink network, according to Ookla.
Starlink’s local infrastructure in Nairobi serves as a relay between its satellites and terrestrial fibre networks. By shortening the distance data must travel over satellite links and avoiding routing through distant overseas ground stations, the PoP reduces round-trip times for internet traffic.
“Kenya best illustrates the importance of nearby ground stations when it comes to Starlink’s latency,” said Mark Dano, Ookla’s lead research analyst, in a research article.
“A number of East African countries saw a significant improvement in Starlink latency early this year, likely linked to the deployment of a new Starlink PoP in Nairobi in January 2025,” he added.
The deployment of the Nairobi PoP marked a strategic move by Starlink to address capacity constraints that had led to a temporary freeze on new sign-ups in urban centres from late 2024 until early 2025.
During that period, the company paused registrations in Kenya and several other African countries to prevent network congestion, before reopening sign-ups after the infrastructure upgrades.
While latency has improved significantly, download speeds for Starlink users in Kenya remain variable. Median speed tests reported by Ookla in September 2025 showed average download speeds of about 44 megabits per second.
Starlink’s latency in Kenya is expected to improve further as the company rolls out additional software and infrastructure upgrades globally.
“You can expect latency to continue to improve as we prioritise software changes, build additional ground infrastructure and launch more satellites,” Starlink said in a public communication last year.
