Starlink, the satellite internet service from SpaceX, has resumed subscriptions in Nairobi and its neighboring counties, including Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado, and Murang’a, after a seven-month pause that began in November 2024.
The company’s updated coverage map now shows service availability in key towns, and multiple users have confirmed successful activations this month.
A local retailer also confirmed the development, telling TechCabal on Monday, June 23, that Starlink was back to full capacity.
The satellite internet provider temporarily stopped new sign-ups to relieve network congestion and expand its capacity in the region.
Why Starlink Paused Subscriptions
With too many users in concentrated areas, the network experienced reduced speeds and performance issues, leading to a freeze in new activations.
At the time, Starlink acknowledged that too many users were trying to access the service within Nairobi, stretching the network’s capacity to support additional customers.
Therefore, the freeze on subscriptions was meant to free up resources to improve service quality for existing residential and roaming users.
Also Read: Starlink’s Uptake in Kenya Slows Months After Doubling Market Share- Report
“Nairobi and neighboring areas are currently at network capacity. This means that too many users are trying to access the Starlink service within Nairobi and there isn’t enough bandwidth to support additional residential or roaming customers at this time,” Starlink said.
“No roaming plans are available in Kenya at this time. Starlink is working to restore service in the disrupted areas and a notification will be sent once the residential plan is back.”
To address the issue sustainably, Starlink launched a new ground station in Nairobi in January 2025 to boost local bandwidth.
A March 2025 report by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) revealed that Starlink’s internet services in Kenya slowed by 72.9% between October and December 2024, gaining only 2,360 new users compared to 8, 723 new subscribers onboarded during the previous quarter.
Also Read: Safaricom Offers Free Ksh500 to Internet Users Amid Starlink Competition
Lesotho Becomes Latest African Country to Uptake the Satellite
Meanwhile, Lesotho has joined the list of African countries embracing Starlink, after the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) approved a 10-year operating license.
The license, granted on April 14, 2025, follows a year-long regulatory review, making Starlink the country’s first provider of satellite-based broadband.
Starlink will operate in Lesotho locally under the name Starlink Lesotho (Pty) Ltd and now holds a Network Service License that allows it to offer high-speed internet services to both residential and commercial users across the country.
The company’s standard hardware kit is priced at Ksh52,993 (USD 410.80), with a monthly subscription cost of Ksh6,798 (USD 52.70) for residential users.
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