Starlink has resumed new sign-ups in Nairobi and surrounding counties, ending a seven-month freeze caused by overwhelming demand and network congestion in Kenya’s urban belt
The backstory
- In November 2024, Starlink suspended new user registrations in Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado, and Murang’a after rapid subscriber growth strained available bandwidth.
- The number of users jumped from 8,063 in June 2024 to 16,786 by September — doubling in just three months.
- To protect service quality, Starlink paused new residential and roaming sign-ups in saturated zones — not just in Kenya, but also in parts of Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
What changed
- In January 2025, Starlink activated a local ground station in Nairobi, boosting bandwidth and reducing latency.
- This infrastructure upgrade enabled the company to re-open sign-ups in high-demand areas that had previously hit capacity.
Why it matters
- Starlink’s return is a major win for urban users in Kenya who’ve been locked out since late 2024.
- It marks a broader shift: satellite internet infrastructure is finally starting to catch up with African demand, especially in cities.
- Expect renewed pressure on local ISPs as Starlink regains momentum in Kenya’s competitive broadband space.
Zoom out
While Nairobi faced a freeze, rural areas like Vihiga remained open — and installations like Starlink Mini continued with little interruption.
The contrast shows how usage patterns and bandwidth management are shaping the satellite internet rollout across the continent.
Source:
