Kenya's Safaricom Adds 30x More Customers Than Starlink

Kenya's largest telecom company just added more internet customers in one quarter than its buzzy satellite rival has attracted in over a year, proving that flashy technology doesn't always win the day.

Safaricom brought 83,107 new broadband subscribers on board between January and March 2024, pushing its customer base to nearly one million users. Meanwhile, Starlink, the satellite internet service that launched in Kenya in 2023 amid big expectations, added just 2,717 customers during the same period, bringing its total to 24,999 subscribers.

The gap tells a surprising story. While regulators and tech enthusiasts have fixated on Starlink's potential to revolutionize internet access, Kenyan households and businesses are voting with their wallets for traditional fiber connections.

Safaricom isn't sitting idle either. In April, the company doubled internet speeds on several home packages without raising prices, a clear sign they're taking the competition seriously. Rivals like Zuku and Jamii Telecommunications followed suit with their own upgraded plans.

Smaller fiber providers are also thriving. Vilcom Network gained 26,569 subscribers during the quarter, while Ahadi Wireless added 23,363 customers. Both outperformed Starlink despite having far less name recognition.

The Bright Side

This competition is creating real wins for everyday Kenyans. Faster speeds at the same price mean families can stream, work, and learn online more easily. Small businesses get better connectivity without breaking the bank.

The market dynamics also show that newer isn't always better. Fiber networks built over years of patient investment are delivering what customers actually want: reliable, fast internet at competitive prices. Safaricom now serves 35.4% of Kenya's fixed internet market, up from 34.9% the previous quarter.

Not everyone is winning. Poa! Internet, which targets lower-income neighborhoods, lost 6,788 subscribers as larger players flex their advantages in network reach and bundled services.

But the overall picture shows a healthy, growing market where competition drives innovation. Starlink still serves underserved rural areas where fiber hasn't reached, while established providers push each other to offer better value in cities and towns.

In just three months, Safaricom alone added more than triple the total number of customers Starlink serves nationwide, proving that the future of internet access in Kenya will be built on multiple technologies working together.