In a blow to Kenya’s burgeoning digital connectivity, the American satellite internet provider Starlink has been forced to temporarily suspend new subscriptions in the capital city of Nairobi and six surrounding counties.
A Photo of Starlink receiver. Courtesy photo
The company cited a surge in demand that has overwhelmed its existing network capacity, leaving it unable to accommodate additional residential or roaming customers at this time.
“Nairobi and neighbouring areas are currently at network capacity,” Starlink announced in a statement. “This means that too many users are trying to access the Starlink service within Nairobi, and there isn’t enough bandwidth to support additional sign-ups now.”
The suspension comes as a major disappointment for Kenyans eager to access Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency satellite internet, which has been touted as a game-changer for connectivity in underserved regions. The service, founded by billionaire Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX, had only recently expanded into the Kenyan market.
According to the company, the network overload has made it impossible to onboard new customers without compromising the experience for existing users. Starlink stated that it is working to “restore service levels” and will notify customers when new subscriptions can be accepted.
“We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to increase capacity as quickly as possible,” the company said.
The surge in demand highlights the pent-up need for reliable and high-performance internet access across Kenya, particularly in urban centres like Nairobi. Despite significant investments in fibre-optic infrastructure and mobile broadband in recent years, many residents continue to grapple with slow, unreliable connections that struggle to keep pace with the country’s rapidly growing digital economy.
Starlink’s satellite-based service had been touted as a potential solution, offering download speeds of up to 200 Mbps and latency as low as 20 milliseconds – performance that far exceeds most traditional broadband options in Kenya.
“Starlink was the answer to our prayers,” lamented Nairobi resident Alex Ouma. “I was really looking forward to signing up and finally getting the kind of internet speed and reliability that I need for my work. Now I’m left in the dark, waiting and hoping they can sort this out soon.”
Industry analysts attribute the overwhelming demand to a combination of factors, including Starlink’s competitive pricing, the service’s reputation for quality, and the persistent shortcomings of existing broadband infrastructure in many parts of Kenya.
“Starlink has tapped into a massive unmet need for high-performance internet, especially in urban areas where traditional providers have struggled to keep up with demand,” said technology analyst Jane Wambui. “The challenge they’re facing now is a victim of their own success – their service is in such high demand that they’re struggling to scale fast enough to meet it.”
The suspension of new sign-ups has also sparked concerns about the equitable distribution of Starlink’s limited capacity. Some commentators have called for the company to prioritize underserved rural communities over the capital, where alternative connectivity options may be more readily available.
“There’s a risk that Starlink could end up exacerbating the digital divide if they’re forced to ration their service,” warned social impact researcher Fatima Abdirahman. “They need to ensure that their limited capacity is allocated in a way that benefits the communities that need it most, not just the ones that can afford it.”
Starlink has not provided a timeline for when new subscriptions might resume in Nairobi and the surrounding counties. The company stated that it is “working to increase capacity as quickly as possible” to meet the surging demand.
In the meantime, frustrated Kenyans are left to wait and wonder when they might be able to experience the transformative potential of Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet. For a country striving to cement its position as a tech and innovation hub, the temporary setback is a stark reminder of the work that still lies ahead to bridge the digital divide.
