Starlink Faces Subscriber Decline in Kenya as Locals Return to Cheaper Providers
A customer examines a Starlink high-speed internet promotion at a retail store, highlighting the company’s efforts to expand connectivity.
Elon Musk’s Starlink once promised to revolutionize internet access in Kenya, especially during times of political unrest when the government restricts internet access. However, barely two years after launch, many users are unplugging. High costs, slower-than-expected speeds, and limited customer support have soured urban consumers, some of whom pay up to $116 per month for what has been described as underwhelming service. While Starlink boomed in 2024, following that year’s anti-government protests, it lost over 10% of subscribers in early 2025. In contrast, local providers, which offer cheaper and faster options, grew their subscriber base by 8%. Yet in rural Kenya, Starlink’s satellite-based model still shines, connecting remote schools and boosting digital access where fiber cannot reach. The lesson? Starlink’s future in Kenya may lie off the grid, far from the cities where its hype first took hold.
Bloomberg