Starlink resumes sign-ups in Nairobi after a seven-month suspension that began in November 2024. The service reopened this week across Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado, and Murang’a. Therefore, thousands of users who bought hardware months ago can now activate their kits.
A Starlink spokesperson explained that the freeze was necessary “because the network had reached capacity in these regions, limiting its ability to accommodate new residential and roaming users” . Furthermore, they added, “Too many users were trying to access the service within Nairobi, and there wasn’t enough bandwidth to support additional customers” .
Starlink resumes sign-ups: Network upgrades unlock capacity
In January, Starlink launched a new ground station in Nairobi to ease congestion. Therefore, the company could handle the surge in urban demand. Between June and September 2024, Starlink’s subscriber base in Kenya jumped from about 8,000 to nearly 17,000, doubling its market share .
Lauren Dreyer, VP of Starlink Business, told CNN’s Africa correspondent Larry Madowo, “If we just kept letting people sign up, it would degrade everybody’s service” . Consequently, the pause kept existing customers online while upgrades took effect.
Furthermore, the company plans more ground stations across major cities to prevent future freezes. However, capacity in other hotspots like Lagos and Harare still lags behind improvements seen in Nairobi.
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[…] Starlink resumes Nigerian activations, bringing renewed hope for high-speed internet access across the country. The satellite internet provider, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has restarted customer activations after a months-long regulatory pause. This development follows the expansion of Starlink’s network capacity and the resolution of regulatory hurdles with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). As a result, new users in high-demand areas like Lagos and Abuja can now access Starlink’s services. These services promise to bridge the digital divide in underserved regions. Therefore, this resumption marks a significant step toward enhancing connectivity for homes and businesses nationwide. […]