The largest telco in Kenya, Safaricom, still believes that the fixed internet networks it provides remains unmatched in Kenya – regarding satellite internet as a ‘complementary’ service.
- •In an interview with The Kenyan Wall Street, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said that in areas with reliable internet infrastructure, satellite internet is not needed.
- •According to Ndegwa, local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have done a great job to connect many Kenyans to the internet and perceive satellite internet as a crucial solution in rural and remote areas where broadband connections were limited.
- •The telco’s CEO did not rule out the possibility of partnering with Starlink or any other satellite internet companies that enter the market.
“Satellite internet complements what fixed networks provide. We believe it will complement what we provide as an industry. In other countries, what they are asking satellite companies to do is to make sure that the gaps that still exist in rural and remote areas are filled,” Peter Ndegwa told The Kenyan Wall Street.
Ndegwa argued that Safaricom was not averse to satellite internet because Vodafone – Safaricom’s parent company – had a 3-year partnership with AST SpaceMobile. The satellite network company selected Safaricom in its preliminary satellite communications tests before deploying its services in the continent.
“We don’t necessarily see satellite internet as competition but as long as we serve customers and deliver what they want, that is good for the country,” Ndegwa added.
Elon Musk’s ‘Starlink’ has gained prominence in Kenya over the recent months following Kenyans’ dissatisfaction with major local ISPs. Starlink has garnered more than 8,000 subscribers in the past one year, heating up its competition with local service providers.
After Starlink introduced a cheaper mini kit and kick-started a rental plan for its kits, Safaricom increased its internet speeds across various packages to edge up their desirability in the internet market.
However, Starlink has recently halted new residential and roaming subscriptions in major urban areas across Africa due to an overstretch in its bandwidth. Elon Musk assured that capacity in major urban areas across Africa will be ramped up to satisfy growing demand.
READ; Starlink Kenya Subscribers Grow Nearly 2000% in a Year