Starlink, the satellite internet service provider associated with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has recently introduced a kit rental option in Kenya.
This new option, announced earlier this week, allows customers to activate the service with a one-time fee of Ksh 2,700. Afterward, users will pay a monthly hardware rental fee of Ksh 1,950, while service plans start at Ksh 1,300 per month.
According to the company, this rental option offers internet speeds of up to 200Mbps.
Since its launch in the Kenyan market in July 2023, Starlink has gradually offered competitively priced internet packages with improved speeds. However, the high initial cost of hardware has been a significant barrier for many potential customers.
When Starlink first launched in Kenya, the kit was priced at Ksh 74,000. This cost has since decreased, with kits becoming available through retail chains like Carrefour and online platforms such as Jumia. Earlier this year, Starlink introduced a promotion to reduce hardware costs to a minimum of Ksh 39,500. Last month, another offer lowered the kit price to Ksh 29,000.
In addition to the reduced hardware costs, Starlink has been rolling out more affordable service plans to compete with local internet providers like Safaricom and Airtel. For instance, last month, the company introduced a 50 GB monthly data plan priced at Ksh 1,300, compared to Airtel’s Ksh 3,000 for a similar package.
