Starlink has launched a Point of Presence (PoP) in Nairobi, Kenya—the second in Africa after Nigeria. This move is a major milestone for the company’s expansion on the continent.
Driving the news
- Starlink recently paused new account registrations in Nairobi and its surrounding areas due to network capacity issues.
- At present, the area remains marked as “sold out” on the Starlink map, with no clear timeline for when new accounts will be accepted again.
Zoom out
- Starlink’s satellite-based internet service often faces latency challenges compared to terrestrial options like fiber or mobile broadband.
- Latency—measured as the time it takes for data to travel—can be a bottleneck for activities like gaming or video calls.
The details
- Starlink users in Kenya previously faced higher latency as their data traveled long distances to the PoP in Nigeria.
- With the Nairobi PoP now live, latency for many users has dropped significantly—from 120–150 milliseconds to as low as 30 milliseconds.
Between the lines
Ground stations like PoPs are critical to improving Starlink’s performance. While more satellites in orbit help, strategically located PoPs reduce the distance data must travel, lowering latency and improving user experience.
What’s next
- Nairobi’s PoP is part of Starlink’s broader effort to build out its global ground infrastructure.
- The company, which reportedly had around 33 PoPs globally before Nairobi, continues to expand its footprint, especially in underserved regions like Africa.
Source: Tech With Muchiri
