Amazon has applied for a license to operate satellite internet services in Kenya, putting Jeff Bezos in direct competition with Elon Musk’s Starlink in one of Africa’s most active tech markets.
The application, filed under the name Amazon Kuiper Kenya Limited, was published in a Kenya Gazette notice on June 5 by the Communications Authority of Kenya.
Amazon is seeking an international gateway operator license, which would allow it to build and run a ground station in Kenya, the physical infrastructure that connects satellites in orbit to internet users on the ground.
This would be Amazon’s first satellite ground station on the African continent.
What is a Ground Station?
A ground station is essentially where satellite signals land before being converted into regular internet traffic and pushed through fiber networks to users. The closer it is to users, the faster the connection.
When Starlink opened its own ground station in Nairobi in January last year, its latency dropped from 296 milliseconds to 39 milliseconds, a number that translated directly into better video calls and faster browsing for its customers.
Amazon is going after the same advantage. Without a local ground station, signals would have to travel to facilities in other countries and back, adding unnecessary delay.
Amazon Leo vs. Starlink
Amazon’s satellite internet service, formerly called Project Kuiper and now branded Amazon Leo, is being built to go head to head with Starlink. The plan involves launching over 3,200 satellites by 2028.
Amazon has been pitching the service as faster than Starlink, advertising download speeds of up to 400 Mbps for standard terminals compared to Starlink’s 150 Mbps, and up to 1,280 Mbps for commercial setups versus Starlink’s 400 Mbps.
Pricing has not been announced yet, though analysts expect it to be competitive.
Both services operate in low-earth orbit, which keeps latency low compared to traditional satellite internet that uses satellites parked much further away.
Amazon also plans a direct-to-device feature where data moves between satellites and regular smartphones without needing cell towers, similar to what Starlink already offers.
Kenya as the Entry Point
Kenya is not a random choice. Starlink launched here in July 2023 and demonstrated that Kenyans, including those outside major cities, were willing to pay for satellite broadband.
READ: Starlink Drives 115% Growth in Kenya’s Satellite Internet
The country has a relatively developed tech ecosystem by regional standards, and demand for reliable internet beyond urban centers has outpaced what terrestrial infrastructure can deliver.
Amazon already filed for a Network Facilities Provider license last month, the first regulatory step for any company wanting to deploy communications infrastructure in Kenya.
A ground station in Nairobi would also let the company serve neighboring countries from a single regional hub.
On the partnership side, Amazon has signed a deal with Vodafone, the parent company of Safaricom, to connect its satellite network to 4G and 5G masts in remote areas.
Starlink’s parent SpaceX made a similar move, partnering with both Vodacom and Airtel Africa to extend coverage across the continent.
Starlink’s Head Start
Starlink currently holds about 0.9% of Kenya’s internet service provider market, making it the ninth largest ISP in the country. It has been working to protect that position.
READ: Starlink Orders Kenyan Users to Verify ID by April 30
Earlier this year it updated its payment terms to offer hardware on installment plans, lowering the cost of entry for new customers ahead of Amazon’s arrival.
If Amazon’s license is approved, Kenya would have three major satellite ground stations: the Kenya Space Agency’s own facility, Starlink’s Nairobi station, and Amazon’s proposed one.
That said, not everyone is enthusiastic about satellite expansion in Kenya. Telecoms experts have raised concerns about interference from higher-power satellites degrading 3G, 4G, and 5G networks operated by carriers like Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom Kenya.
READ: Satellite Firms in Kenya Face Up to 45 Million in Fees Under New Licensing Rules
The worry is that increased noise from satellite transmissions reduces the capacity of existing mobile networks, which still carry the bulk of Kenya’s internet traffic.
The Communications Authority has not given a timeline for when it will decide on Amazon’s application.
