After a seven-month pause, Starlink, the satellite internet service from Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has officially resumed sign-ups in Nairobi and neighbouring counties.
According to multiple recent reports seen by Techparley, the company has resumed signups in Kenya, after it suspended new registrations in November 2024.
“Too many users were trying to access the service within Nairobi, and there wasn’t enough bandwidth to support additional customers,” Starlink explained.
The demand had outstripped available bandwidth, forcing the company to halt new customer onboarding while it upgraded infrastructure to support additional users.
Growing Demand Fuels Strategic Expansion
The reopening of Starlink sign-ups is a significant development for Kenya. During the brief period between June and September 2024, just before the suspension, Starlink’s subscriber base in Kenya surged from around 8,000 to nearly 17,000 customers.
This rapid growth elevated the satellite provider from the tenth-largest to the eighth-largest fixed internet service provider in the country, according to multiple reports.
This expansion also contributed to a 5 percent rise in Kenya’s total fixed internet subscriptions, which climbed from 1.50 million to 1.57 million during the same quarter.
Market Impact and Competitive Landscape
Starlink’s re-entry into Nairobi comes at a time when competition in Kenya’s internet sector is intensifying.
Industry analysts suggest that Starlink’s growth may spur broader improvements in internet quality and pricing as rivals adapt to meet evolving consumer expectations.
Its unique satellite-based model allows it to reach remote or underserved areas where fibre infrastructure is limited or nonexistent, giving it a strategic advantage in bridging Kenya’s digital divide.
What Comes Next?
With sign-ups now open again in Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado, and Murang’a, Starlink appears poised for a new phase of growth.
The company is likely to continue scaling capacity to accommodate surging demand and could explore further market penetration across East Africa.
For many experts, Starlink’s return is more than a resumption of service, it marks a turning point in how internet access is delivered and experienced in Kenya. For users, the benefits are immediate; for the sector, the competition is just getting started.
