Kenya’s largest telecommunications company, Safaricom, faces a new challenge after Kituo Cha Sheria, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), moved to court supporting the entry of Elon Musk’s Starlink into the Kenyan market. Kituo Cha Sheria has filed a certificate of urgency, urging the court to allow Starlink to provide satellite internet services across the country.
The NGO dismissed Safaricom’s claims that Starlink’s entry poses a threat to mobile network quality. In its petition, Kituo Cha Sheria argued that Safaricom, as a direct competitor, had a biased position when it opposed Starlink’s operations in a letter to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).
Kituo Cha Sheria, represented by lawyer Marc Chirchir, is requesting the court to instruct the CA and the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) to conduct a thorough study to determine appropriate regulations for satellite internet providers. According to Business Daily, Kituo Cha Sheria’s petition stated, “That pending hearing and determination of this application and petition, a conservatory order and injunction restraining CA and CAK from taking any actions that may be prejudicial to the consumers of SpaceX’s Starlink.”
Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, provides high-speed broadband internet, particularly to remote areas. It officially entered the Kenyan market in July 2023, using satellite technology to offer internet connectivity instead of traditional broadband that relies on optic fiber and copper cables. Starlink aims to connect underserved communities worldwide by providing internet access where conventional service providers have failed.
In response to Starlink’s entry, Safaricom has upgraded the speeds of its Wi-Fi packages to stay competitive. Meanwhile, Starlink is reviewing its pricing strategy to attract more Kenyan consumers, with services offering speeds of up to 200 Mbps. Starlink also announced plans to allow mobile phone users a direct satellite internet connection through advanced Evolved Node B technology.
Kituo Cha Sheria argued that preventing Starlink from operating in Kenya would deprive many Kenyans of affordable, high-speed internet. “The threat to stop Starlink from operating in Kenya should be halted to allow more Kenyans access to reliable internet,” the NGO stated.
READ MORE: KRG THE DON EXPLAINS WHY HE TOOK A SOCIAL MEDIA HIATUS
The matter remains in court, with ongoing investigations and studies expected to shed light on the future landscape of Kenya’s internet services.