Elon Musk‘s SpaceX company has been launching thousands of satellites into orbit. Many people say they’ve seen them in the skies.
Kenya is now part of this global internet community courtesy of Starlink.
Starlink provides internet services via a huge network of satellites. It is aimed at people who live in remote areas who cannot get high-speed internet.
According to Elon Musk, the goal of Starlink is to provide affordable internet connectivity across the country.
To achieve this, Starlink has partnered with Karibu Connect, a well-known internet connectivity provider, to deploy advanced technology at accessible price points.
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, offers high-speed internet services suitable for streaming, video calls, and online gaming. The service provides various packages including residential, business, roaming, maritime, and aviation options.
Starlink is not the only internet provider with satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
Amazon is also planning to put thousands of its Kuiper satellites into LEO. Another satellite communications provider, Oneweb is also putting satellites out there.
Starlink Kenya packages
To access the residential package, users need to provide their contact information and shipping address. Delivery typically takes two to three weeks with a shipping fee of Ksh3,100 and a monthly subscription cost of Ksh6,500.
The business package offers three service options: 1 Terabyte (TB) of priority data with unlimited standard data for Ksh13,572, 2 TB of data for Ksh27,144, and 6 TB of data for Ksh81,432. Businesses will also enjoy a 30-day trial period without contractual obligations.
Under the roaming package, Starlink offers regional and global services for land usage. The regional package costs Ksh7,900 per month, while the international package costs Ksh32,800 per month.
For mobile connectivity, the Mobile Priority – 50GB package allows usage on land and at sea while in motion. It provides 50GB of Mobile Priority Data, followed by unlimited mobile data once the priority data is exhausted. The monthly cost for this package is Ksh34,910.
It’s important to note that the hardware for all packages is not included and requires a separate purchase, with average costs ranging from Ksh89,000 to Ksh110,000.
Karibu Connect and Starlink partnership
The partnership between Starlink and Karibu Connect enables high-speed connectivity through Karibu Connect’s turnkey solutions.
Karibu Connect has also designed flexible hardware leasing plans to ensure businesses of all sizes can benefit from Starlink’s reliable internet connectivity.
John Thuo, CEO of Karibu Connect, highlighted the significance of this collaboration in delivering affordable and reliable internet access across Kenya.
Thuo also expressed that Starlink’s technology will revolutionize connectivity in rural areas. He added that this will contribute to societal progress and economic growth.
The partnership between Starlink and Karibu Connect has the potential to bring transformative changes to Kenya’s connectivity landscape. It also offers the opportunity to promote inclusivity and development.
