Imagine being in an area so remote, but you can surf the internet at your pleasure. Starlink has lived up to its New Year’s resolution promise of bringing fast internet coverage to even the remotest parts of the country.

Kenya has been, for a long time, on Starlink’s global expansion roadmap. This is largely owed to the fact that a vast majority of Kenyans do not have internet access. This saw Starlink identify a ripe market.

The brainchild of Tesla & SpaceX tycoon Elon Musk, Starlink has finally launched its services in the Kenyan market, undoubtedly bringing fierce competition to local internet providers.

They include Safaricom’s Home Fibre, Jamii Telecommunication’s Faiba and Zuku Internet.

“Starlink for sale in Kenya! Note, buying a Starlink with global roaming allows you to travel almost anywhere,” Elon Musk tweeted on his platform.

“Starlink is currently available in your area using inter-satellite links. You can expect Starlink’s typical high-speed internet with brief periods of intermittent service and high latency,” the company wrote on their website.

As the newest internet service provider in town, Starlink is set to disrupt the digital landscape. But at what price? Is the hype really worth it?

In this article, we shall take a look at Starlink’s internet packages in Kenya and their respective prices, availability and how you can get set up with the service provider.

Starlink Packages and Pricing

The company had pledged to provide Kenyans with download speeds of up to 250 Mbps and upload rates of at most 35 Mbps.

Essentially, packages features include a satellite dish, mounting tripod, Wi-Fi router, power supply and cables

Local internet company Karibu Connect has been authorized as the first distributor of Starlink’s internet packages.

John Thuo, CEO of Karibu Connect expressed his delight in the partnership with Musk revealing that it will be a huge milestone in the firm’s mission to bridge the digital divide and enhance connectivity infrastructure.

“Our partnership with Starlink is a substantial progression in our mission to deliver affordable, high-quality internet access to all corners of Kenya. The deployment of Starlink’s groundbreaking technology will revolutionize how rural Kenya engages with the global community, fostering societal progress and driving economic growth.”

Its target cities are Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Kisumu. Coverage will definitely improve with time as Starink is still in its nascent stages because it is designed to provide internet service virtually everywhere.

As is the norm, for every good thing, there must be a matching price. Though this undoubtedly marks an exciting shift in the connectivity landscape, it will come at a hefty price.

Starlink has two packages tailor-made for individuals and firms with varying needs.

1. Residential Package

This is the cheapest package.

According to the Starink website, purchasing the terminal to allow connections to a Kenyan home will cost Sh. 89,000 ($628) and a delivery fee of Sh. 3,100 ($21.88).

In addition, users of this package will be required to pay a membership rate of Sh. 6,500 ($45.89) monthly. Total first-time installation and payment will be roughly above Sh. 92,500.

2. Business package

This one is designed to meet business/enterprise needs. Purchasing the hardware will cost a firm Sh. 349,107, with a shipment fee of Sh. 7,500.

Those subscribed to this package will be paying Sh. 13,572 monthly. Total first-time installation and payment will be approximately Sh. 370,200.

How to get Starlink Internet in Kenya

This is quite a simple and straightforward process. Simply follow the steps outlined.

1. Visit the Starlink maps website
2. Find out whether Starlink is available in your area by entering your location.
3. If present, click the Order Now button to place your order
4. Fill out the form with your contact and shipping details
5. On the shipping address, enter your physical location and not ‘P.O Box’. 

Pros and Cons of getting Starlink Internet

The expansion of Starlink to Kenya offers promising opportunities, especially for residents in remote areas. However, the significant cost of its hardware may pose a challenge to quick widespread adoption.

Here are the pros & cons of getting Starlink Internet in Kenya:

Pros

1. High-Speed Internet Access
2. Low Latency
3. Wider coverage
4. Reliability

Cons

1. High prices
2. Weather sensitivity causing occasional outages
3. Limited coverage
4. Unestablished in the Kenyan market

Brewing Rivalry

While Starlink uses a constellation of satellites in space to deliver high-speed internet, Safaricom’s Home Fibre and Jamii Telecommunication’s Faiba used fibre optic cables.

Starlink is however faster providing internet speeds of up to 200 Mbps per second, outstripping traditional internet service providers in Kenya. With the competition set to evolve along the way, we might see internet prices drop.