Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, is now available in Kenya. The announcement was made by Musk on his Twitter account on Tuesday, July 18.
“Starlink for sale in Kenya!” Musk tweeted. “Note, buying a Starlink with global roaming allows you to travel almost anywhere.”
Starlink is a high-speed, low-latency internet service that is delivered via a network of satellites. The service is designed to provide internet access to people in remote and underserved areas.
In Kenya, Starlink is expected to be particularly popular in rural areas, where traditional internet infrastructure is often lacking. The service is also expected to be used by businesses and organizations that need reliable internet access.
The cost of Starlink in Kenya is Ksh. 74,216 ($599) for the equipment and Ksh. 14,843 ($129) per month for the service. Kenyans can pre-order the service and deposit a fully refundable deposit of Ksh. 12,260 ($99).
The availability of Starlink in Kenya has been welcomed by many Kenyans. In a Twitter poll, 80% of respondents said they were excited about the service.
“This is great news for Kenya,” said John Thuo, CEO of Karibu Connect, a Kenyan internet service provider. “Starlink will help to close the digital divide in Kenya and provide internet access to people who have never had it before.”
The availability of Starlink in Kenya is a significant milestone for the company. It is the first time that Starlink has been made available in a sub-Saharan African country.
Starlink is currently available in 44 countries around the world. The company plans to expand to more countries in the coming months.
Sentiments from Kenyans
Kenyans have taken to social media to express their excitement about the availability of Starlink in the country. Many people have said that they are looking forward to finally having reliable internet access.
“This is a game-changer for Kenya,” said one Twitter user. “Starlink will help to bridge the digital divide and give people in rural areas access to the internet.”
Another Twitter user said that they were “excited to finally be able to work from home without having to worry about my internet connection dropping out.”
The availability of Starlink in Kenya is a positive development for the country. It will help to improve access to the internet and boost economic growth.