ByKEVIN ROTICH
Sunday January 15, 2023
France, 2022-11-16. illustration of Elon Musk, owner of Twitter. Illustration by Idriss Bigou-Gilles / Hans Lucas. France, 2022-11-16. illustration d Elon Musk, proprietaite de Twitter. Illustration d Idriss Bigou-Gilles / Hans Lucas. (Photo by Idriss Bigou-Gilles / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP)
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 15 – Tesla founder Elon Musk’s internet company Starlink will launch internet services in Kenya this year.
The tech firm said that it will be entering the country in quarter-two of 2023, pending regulatory approval.
Entrance of the firm is set to offer competition to operators such as Safaricom, Zuku, and other internet providers.
“Order now to reserve your Starlink. Starlink is targeting service in your area starting Q2 2023,” the company said.
“Availability is subject to regulatory approval. Within each coverage area, orders are fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis,” it added.
The firm, which is targeting Kisumu, Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, among others, said prospective customers can order and deposit $99 (Sh12,260) that is refundable.
While local firms such as Safaricom offer internet services through Wi-Fi, cellular networks and fibre cables, Musk’s firm offer internet services via satellites.
Apart from Kenya, the firm will also be launching in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, DRC, Malawi, Benin, and Morocco.
Others include Western Sahara, Mauritania, Togo, Angola, Somalia, as well as the Republic of Congo.In 2024, it will be entering Uganda, Namibia, Botswana, Ghana, Liberia, Gambia, Egypt, Tunisia, among others.
“Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency service is made possible via the world’s largest constellation of highly advanced satellites operating in a low orbit around earth,” it started.