Starlink Ambitions to Make Broadband More Accessible in Africa

Elon Musk makes no bone about its ambition to be one of the largest Internet Service Providers in Africa through Starlink. Based on satellite technology, it can reach even the most remote regions and a ready-made kit allows for almost instant access.

Already, Starlink has made waves and is basking in its remarkable success in some geographies. For instance, Kenya registered a rise in subscriptions by a factor of nearly 20 times within one year of launch as subscribers grew from 405 in June 2023 to 8,324 in June 2024.

The internet speed via satellite varies from 100 Mbps up to 1 Gbps. The starter kit is priced at KSH 27,000 (USD 211) with monthly subscription fees as low as KSH 1,300 (USD 10).

The skyrocketing rise of Starlink in Africa has turned the heads of traditional telcos who view with concern the arrival of this new and aggressive player on their home turf. On the other hand, consumers stand to gain as players are making their offers more affordable more attractive and affordable.

In Nigeria, a similar story is unfolding. Within a short time after its launch, Starlink has propelled itself as the 3rd largest ISP in the country. In any case, Starlink is shaking up the broadband market in Africa. South African minister of Communications Solly Malatsi noted that Starlink is filling a gap in the market as telcos are unwilling to invest in infrastructure in sparsely populated regions.

It will be interesting to see how regulators will balance the interests of incumbent operators — which are often state-owned — with those of new entrants with disruptive technologies. It enlarges the choice for customers and offers a solution for remote communities far away from fiber backbone. As such, Starlink can contribute to close the #DigitalDivide and give a much needed push to the #digitalization drive in Africa.