Elon Musk’s Starlink has restored the subscriptions it lost in Kenya when its network capacity was exceeded, yet the company still struggles to regain its position in the market as local internet providers continue to expand.
In the three months ending September, Starlink added 2,045 new users, bringing its total subscriber count to 19,470, surpassing its previous high of 19,146 in December 2024.
Despite this gain, the company’s share of Kenya’s fixed internet market remained unchanged at 0.8 percent, according to the Communications Authority of Kenya. The figure matches Vijiji Connect, highlighting the challenge Starlink faces in competing with established local providers.
Safaricom maintained its dominance by adding 79,288 fixed internet customers during the same period, increasing its market share from 34.3 percent to 35.6 percent. Other providers such as Jamii Telecoms (Faiba), Ahadi Wireless, Vilcom Network, and Mawingu also strengthened their subscriber base, making it harder for Starlink to expand its footprint.
Overall, Kenya’s fixed internet subscriptions grew by 147,150 in the quarter, rising from 2.14 million to 2.29 million. Starlink accounted for just 1.4 percent of these new connections, as most customers joined local operators.
The company had initially expanded rapidly after entering the market, reaching a 0.5 percent share by September 2024 and doubling it within three months.
However, this surge overwhelmed its capacity, forcing a pause on new sign-ups in November 2024, not only in Kenya but also in other fast-growing African markets, including Nigeria and South Sudan.
