Starlink Stumbles in Kenya as Satellite Subscriptions Dip by Nearly 10%

Satellite internet giant Starlink  has suffered a notable decline in Kenya, with the latest industry report revealing a 9.9% drop in its subscriptions in the first quarter of 2025, according to data published in the Communications Authority (CA ) of Kenya’s Q3 Sector Statistics Report .

The number of satellite data subscribers fell from 19,403 in December 2024 to 17,475 by the end of March 2025. The report attributes this downturn directly to a drop in subscriptions to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet provided by Starlink.

This contraction comes despite a notable surge in satellite internet capacity consumption, which rose by 32.7% over the same period—an indication that existing users are drawing more bandwidth even as new sign-ups decline.

While the report does not elaborate on causes, the decline follows a previously reported seven-month pause on new Starlink kit registrations and rising competition from local providers offering terrestrial wireless and fibre connections. Industry observers have also noted growing interest in Safaricom’s expanding 5G router offerings, which are becoming increasingly accessible in urban and peri-urban areas.

Starlink currently holds less than 1% of the fixed internet market share in Kenya, placing it behind leading providers such as Safaricom PLC and Jamii Telecommunications. Despite its relatively small footprint, Starlink’s entry into the market in 2023 was hailed as a potential game-changer for hard-to-reach areas. The latest figures, however, suggest that early momentum may be slowing under market and regulatory pressures.

As fixed internet subscriptions continue to grow—up 8.1% quarter-on-quarter—attention is turning to how satellite providers like Starlink will position themselves amid shifting infrastructure dynamics and rising user expectations in Kenya’s rapidly digitising economy.