August 14th passed and the Starlink’s kit limited time offer is over. However, the satellite internet provider has yet another incentive for the Kenyan market. Since its market entry, the cost of Starlink hardware kit has been a major impediment, now the company is allowing Kenyans to rent the kit on monthly basis.
To do this, one has to first pay a one-time activation fee of KES 2,700. After this, the monthly rental fee has been set at KES 1,950. These two charges are separate from the monthly internet service plans. Notably, the Starlink’s hardware renting option is not a limited time offer.
This could be a game changer for many Kenyans who are seeking alternative and reliable internet service providers. At launch, Starlink kit’s retail price was KES 89,000. This proved to be a steep hill to climb for most would be customers. The prices have been coming down slowly in the last one year often starting with limited time offers. For those who dont want to rent, the purchase price for the standard actuated Starlink hardware is KES 45,500.
READ: How to become an ISP in Kenya
Lowering the price of its hardware kit has hard positive effects in the number of Satellite internet subscribers in Kenya. Though 4,808 is still a very small number in a country of over 50 million residents, it is a huge leap from where it was last year. At the time of Starlink’s launch there were only 405 satellite internet subscriptions in Kenya.
Starlink has also responded to Kenya’s “Kadogo Economy culture” by launching a monthly plan of KES 1,300. The plan however, has a hard cap of 50 GB. With the new rental option in place, the reaction of the market will be one to watch.
