Starlink, the satellite internet service provided by SpaceX, a space exploration firm, has introduced a new rental option for users in Kenya. On the Starlink website, renting the kit is a little more complicated.
Starlink is providing coverage to over 102 countries and aims to provide global mobile broadband. SpaceX started launching Starlink satellites in 2019 and has launched in various countries across the world including Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Ghana.
You can now rent the hardware for $15.15 (KES1,950) per month if you live in Kenya and cannot afford to buy the Starlink internet kit.
Renters of the $350 (KES 45,000) kit will be required to pay a $21 one-time activation fee. They have the option of paying $10 (KES 1,300) for a 50GB plan or $50.50 (KES 6,500) for an unlimited bundle. 200 Mbps is the maximum speed offered by both services.
When Starlink launched a $10 (KES 1,300) monthly budget package in June 2024, local internet service providers (ISPs) were compelled to launch marketing campaigns in order to keep clients.
The number of Starlink users has increased more than tenfold since its July 2023 launch in Kenya, indicating a favorable reception for the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk. Starlink faces competition from established players such as NTvsat and Skynet.
There were only 405 satellite internet users in Kenya three months before to its launch. Kenya’s Communications Authority (CA) data shows that this number climbed to 1,354 within two months after it’s introduction and then to over 4,808 by March 2024.
We’ll walk you through renting the hardware step-by-step in this article.
How to Rent Starlink in Kenya
- Visit the website starlink.com.
- After entering your address, select “Order now.”
- Enter your shipment address and contact details on the next page. Your deposit will be calculated automatically.
- Choose Mobile money as your chosen payment method.
- Select “Place order” by clicking. After that, the website link will open a new page and ask you to use your phone to make your deposit.
- A new button to set your password will appear here.
- After setting your password, you’ll be able to log in. You can choose to either buy or rent your Starlink hardware here.