Starlink Halts New Subscriptions In 5 Kenyan Counties Due to Network Congestion

Starlink, the satellite internet provider by SpaceX, has paused new subscriptions in Nairobi and surrounding counties—Kiambu, Machakos, Narok, Murang’a, and Nakuru—citing “network capacity overload.”

Just over a year since its Kenyan launch in July 2023, Starlink’s high-speed, competitively priced service quickly gained popularity. However, the surge in demand has outpaced network capacity, prompting the provider to cap new residential and roaming subscriptions.

The company explained on its website that increased demand in these counties has strained available bandwidth, making it challenging to maintain service quality for existing subscribers. Starlink operates via low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, which, while offering global coverage and reduced latency, are susceptible to congestion if too many users connect within a specific area.

Kenya, especially in urban and peri-urban areas with limited high-speed internet options, has proven to be a promising market for Starlink. According to the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA), Starlink now ranks as the country’s tenth-largest ISP, with over 8,000 subscribers.

However, rapid adoption in densely populated regions like Nairobi exceeded Starlink’s initial capacity planning, leading to this temporary restriction.