- Safaricom has raised concerns about Starlink’s entry into the Kenyan market and called on the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) to regulate satellite internet providers.
- Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, launched in Kenya in July 2023 and has introduced competitive pricing and hardware rental options in Kenya.
- Safaricom argued that satellite coverage could cross borders and illegally provide services within Kenya, causing, among other things, “harmful interference” that would require regulation.
Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has over three years of experience in finance, economics and technology research, providing insights into trends in Kenya and globally.
Kenya’s leading telecommunications operator Safaricom has expressed concerns about the entry of satellite internet provider Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, into the Kenyan market.
Source: UGC
In an official letter to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), Safaricom asked the regulator to consider requiring satellite providers to enter into partnerships with local mobile network operators when they begin issuing independent licenses to satellite internet providers.
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Starlink, which launched in Kenya in July 2023, has spread across Africa, providing satellite-based internet services that bypass traditional ground infrastructure.
Although the company has faced regulatory hurdles in some countries, it has introduced competitive pricing and hardware rental plans in Kenya to make its services more accessible.
Why Safaricom wants Starlink regulated
Safaricom’s concerns revolve around the possibility that satellite coverage could extend across multiple territorial boundaries and allow services to be offered illegally within Kenya’s borders, causing what the company calls “harmful interference”.
The telecommunications giant, which is partly owned by the Kenyan government, Vodafone and Vodacom, expressed that satellite providers should act as infrastructure providers to ensure local investment, jobs and compliance with Kenyan laws.
How Kenyans reacted to Safaricom
However, Safaricom’s stance has sparked an online debate, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where many Kenyans expressed their opinions on the issue.
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@CPA_ClementE said:
“Safaricom’s concern is understandable – Starlink is about to massively disrupt the market and there will likely be casualties.”
@HonKangata said:
“The government should ignore Safaricom. Muranga has automated its healthcare system. Safaricom’s internet speed drops frequently. The speed is so low. 4.7 Mbps at times. The new Starlink internet speed reaches 100 Mbps. This saves lives. And it is not affected by the weather.”
@zero_mind8 said:
“Never in my worst dreams did I believe that Safaricom would ever be shaken.”
@DonaldBKipkorir said:
“Ideas whose time has come and disruptive technologies are unstoppable. Safaricom developed mPesa and revolutionized the banking sector in Kenya. Starlink will revolutionize the way the whole world communicates without humans changing anything.”
@reubenmuhindi said:
“A friend in Cameroon told me he recently started using Starlink. I asked how that came about, but I know that Cameroon banned it earlier this year because it didn’t have a license and cited a threat to national security. It turns out he bought it in Nigeria and is using it in Cameroon without any problems. Safaricom, you’re on your own.”
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@MalloFredrick said:
“Yoh, the amount of free advertising Kenyans are doing for Starlink is insane. I can’t believe you hated Safaricom so much. What happened to the ‘Buy Kenya, Build Kenya’ initiative? Elon Musk is a billionaire, people!”
As Starlink gains traction in Kenya, the debate between embracing new technological advances and supporting local industry is heating up.
Safaricom’s call for regulatory intervention by the CAK could be just the beginning of an ongoing battle for the future of internet services in the country.
Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, multimedia journalist and editor at TUKO.co.ke
Source: TUKO.co.ke
