Elon Musk Offers Kenyans Who Can’t Afford to Buy Starlink Chance to Rent Internet Kits
- Starlink satellite internet provider entered the Kenyan market last year and provides competition to Safaricom and other internet service providers
- The cost of its hardware kit has been a significant barrier, with most Kenyans decrying its high installation costs
- Kenyans can now rent the kit on a monthly basis, giving a chance to those who cannot afford to pay it all at once
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 provide stiff competition to Safaricom and other internet service providers in Kenya through his Starlink company.
Source: Getty Images
Since the satellite internet provider entered the Kenyan market, the cost of its hardware kit has been a significant barrier.
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However, Kenyans can now rent the kit on a monthly basis, giving a chance to those who cannot afford to pay it all at once.
Buyers are required to pay a KSh 2,700 one-time activation charge. The monthly rental charge is KSh 1,950 without a time limit.
“Offering Starlink rentals in Kenya. Same high-speed service up to 200+Mbps,” Starlink stated on its website.
The kits are bought online via Starlink Kenya.
What was Starlink’s hardware offer?
Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that Elon Musk cut Starlink’s internet installation fee in Kenya to KSh 29,000 from KSh 45,000.
The subsidiary of SpaceX announced discounted offers for installing its kits in August 2024.
The activation fee for the satellite internet remains at KSh 6,500.
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Subscribers can pay for Starlink internet installation via mobile money such as M-Pesa and Airtel Money.
Starlink offers high-speed broadband to remote areas with coverage in almost every part of Kenya.
Why Elon Musk reduced Starlink costs
In June 2024, Starlink announced a standard 50GB plan for Kenyans at KSh 1,300 per month.
A section of Kenyans reached out to the techpreneur via X, his social media platform, urging him to give another offer following an internet outage from broadband providers.
Musk assured Kenyans of a new package dubbed Starlink Mini, saying it would be half the standard plan price.
How Safaricom plans to increase connectivity
After Musk lowered Starlink’s internet installation fee for Kenyans, Safaricom increased its 5G connectivity, building over 1,000 sites across all 47 counties.
Safaricom said the sites guarantee worry-free high-speed internet across 102 towns nationwide.
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In October 2022, Safaricom launched Kenya’s first 5G network and WIFI product, targeting customers without access to home fibre.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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