Starlink has introduced a new rental kit option to the Kenyan market to make its satellite internet services more accessible. With the new kit, customers can now rent the hardware for KSH 1,950 (USD 15) a month, with an additional one-time activation fee of KSH 2,730 (USD 21). This move addresses concerns over the high initial cost that has hindered its progressive adoption since Starlink entered the Kenyan market in July last year.
Initially, customers faced an upfront payment of nearly KSH 89,000 (USD 690) for the kit, which has since been reduced to KSH 45,500 (USD 350) as Starlink expanded distribution through local retail chains. The new rental option allows access to a 50 GB monthly data plan with speeds up to 200 Mbps, challenging local internet providers who offer similar packages at nearly double the price. An unlimited monthly data plan is also available for KSH 6,500 (USD 50).
With internet access and affordability becoming essential enablers for livelihoods, customers are now pivoting to the most viable options. Starlink strives to fill this need with its key strengths of providing high-speed and low-latency internet services. It continuously seeks to ease customers’ adoption of its services. Furthermore, the company is becoming an increasingly popular choice as its offerings continue to provide quality internet access to all.
This is evident from the country’s rapid growth of Starlink subscribers. Data released by the Communication Authority of Kenya supports this. When the company launched in July 2023, it had only 405 subscribers. Two months after Starlink launched in Kenya, this number more than tripled to 1,354. As of March 2024, satellite internet users have grown to 4,808. This trend will grow as affordability and high-quality products become Starlink’s critical drivers for market penetration and adaptability.
Source: https://spaceinafrica.com/2024/08/23/starlink-introduces-kit-rental-option-to-the-kenyan-market/
