Kenya, Other African Countries That Have Access To Starlink Satellite Internet

• American billionaire Elon Musk confirmed on Thursday, August 29, that Starlink now offers internet services to 105 global countries
• The latest African countries to approve Starlink internet were Botswana and Ghana, while others were in the pipeline
• Starlink offers high-speed broadband to remote areas and entered the Kenyan market in July 2023, giving other internet service providers a run for their money

TUKO.co.ke journalist Japhet Ruto has over eight years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting and offers profound insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

American billionaire Elon Musk continues to expand Starlink's presence in Africa and other countries worldwide.

On Thursday, August 29, Musk confirmed that his company now offers internet services to 105 global countries, including 15 in Africa.

The latest African countries to approve Starlink internet were Botswana, Ghana and South Sudan.

"Starlink is now available in Botswana and Ghana! Starlink is connecting people with high-speed internet in 105 markets all around the world, including 15 in Africa," the company, a subsidiary of SpaceX, posted on X.

Which African countries have approved Starlink?

• Kenya.
• Botswana.
• Mozambique.
• South Sudan.
• Ghana.
• Malawi.
• Sierra Leone.
• Nigeria.
• South Sudan.
• Rwanda.
• Zambia.
• Madagascar.
• Eswatini.
• Benin.
• Reunion
• Mayotte (part of Comoro Islands).

When did Starlink enter the Kenyan market?

Starlink offers high-speed broadband to remote areas and entered the Kenyan market in July 2023.

It uses satellite to send internet connectivity signals to users instead of standard broadband, which uses optic fibre and copper cables.

The company aims to connect many people worldwide in remote areas that traditional Internet service providers have not covered.

Why William Ruto asked Starlink to invest in Kenya

President William Ruto asked Starlink to invest in Kenya to reduce internet costs.

Kenyans on social media shared a post of Ruto visiting Starlink's offices during his visit to the United States (US) in September 2023.

In a post shared on his Facebook and X handles, the president reiterated that Starlink's investment could enhance high-speed connectivity in remote villages, schools, and various institutions across the country, thus unlocking the full potential of Kenya's digital economy.

What to know about Starlink

• The satellite internet provider lowered its monthly subscription fees to KSh 1300 for 50GB.
• A 50 gigabyte (GB) monthly data bundle from Starlink costs KSh 1,300, less than half of Airtel's data plan for the same package (KSh 3,000), while Safaricom's monthly package of 45GB costs KSh 2,500.
• The company announced plans to allow mobile phone users to connect directly to the satellite internet via an advanced Evolved Node B.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.