Kenya Sees Fastest Drop in Starlink Internet Speeds on the Continent

Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, is rapidly expanding internet access across Sub-Saharan Africa, but Kenya has experienced the steepest drop in Starlink speeds on the continent, according to Speedtest Intelligence data for Q1 2025.

Since its mid-2023 launch in Kenya, Starlink quickly gained popularity, especially in rural and underserved areas. However, by early 2025, speeds in Kenya and other major markets like Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, and Madagascar fell below 50 Mbps. In contrast, smaller markets such as Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, and Ghana are leading Africa with median download speeds around or above 75 Mbps.

The report noted that this was likely due to "capacity limits and a temporary pause on new sign-ups".

The sharp decline in speeds highlights challenges in scaling the network to meet rising demand, particularly in urban centers like Nairobi. Starlink’s rapid growth, reaching over 19,000 subscribers in Kenya by December 2024, has pushed bandwidth capacity to its limits, prompting the company to temporarily halt new signups in some areas.

Starlink’s entry into Africa has significantly expanded access to fixed broadband, especially in Nigeria and Kenya, where it is becoming a competitive option. However, regulatory hurdles and differing costs across countries complicate the expansion of satellite internet services. Partnerships with local telecom operators will be essential for Starlink to enter new markets and offer more affordable internet to underserved communities.