![Starlink Mini Available In Kenya As Competition For Cheaper Internet Increases [PRICES]](https://i0.wp.com/bouncenationkenya.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Starlink-Mini-Available-In-Kenya-As-Competition-For-Cheaper-Internet.jpg?fit=870%2C580&ssl=1 "Starlink Mini Available In Kenya As Competition For Cheaper Internet")
Tesla billionaire Elon Musk’s satellite firm, Starlink, is breaking more ground in Kenya following the launch of its more affordable Mini variety. This is in response to its growing popularity amongst internet users who have however kept off from purchasing the package owing to its high hardware cost.
The company announced its latest product in the Kenyan market via a statement on Thursday, September 26. “Starlink Mini is now available in Kenya. Stay connected with high-speed internet at home or on the go,” the company said.
Starlink’s owner, the billionaire tech titan Elon Musk, in June, said Starlink Mini “will be about half the standard terminal price and available later this year” in response to a query from a Kenyan on X.
Cost Of Starlink Mini
The Mini kit is a more budget-friendly option for many Kenyans, priced at Ksh27,000, which is compared to the standard kit price which costs Ksh45,000 with a monthly subscription starting at Ksh8,000.
Some of the key packages available in the new kit include 50 GB for Ksh1,300 monthly, a Residential Lite package for Ksh4,000, and a high-speed option offering up to 200 Mbps for Ksh6,500.
A graphic of Elon Musk and Starlink. /YOUTUBE
Starlink Mini is more compact in size and portable compared to the Starlink Standard. Mini covers up to 112 square meters and is recommended for basic internet applications in both fixed and portable use, while Standard covers up to 297 square metres, can endure extreme weather and environmental elements, and is ideal for streaming video calls, and gaming.
Starlink Mini can connect up to 128 devices, compared to Standard which supports up to 235 devices. While Starlink Standard comes with a Gen 3 WiFi Router, Starlink Mini comes with integrated WiFi.
Musk on Tuesday, September 24 waded into the disruption caused by Starlink to local players in the tech scene amidst the increasing demand for internet connectivity in the wake of the Gen Z protests.
The billionaire, who is known to be very vocal online, particularly on X which he owns, responded to a clip where President William Ruto opened up on the decision-making that saw the Kenyan government agree to open the market for Starlink which is considered to be a foreign entity.
President Ruto, who was speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) reiterated the position that Kenya is an open market with his government keen on encouraging competition which he believes will on a general scale, lead to the provision of better products and services.
“As the President of Kenya says, Starlink causes local competitors to provide better services,” Musk responded to Ruto’s sentiments indicative of Kenyans’ confidence in the ability of his Starlink product to penetrate the market.
There is no doubt that Starlink’s entry to the East African nation culminated in better services for Kenyan consumers with local service providers being forced to up their game. President Ruto had on Monday during a business roundtable meeting revealed that Starlink’s entry into the Kenyan market faced a lot of resistance from local players who felt the foreign firm’s entry would eat into their market share.
Ruto admitted during the roundtable that Kenya would be seeking more competitors in a bid to revolutionize the digital space in Kenya. Locally, Starlink has been well received with many Kenyan companies and business owners signaling a shift in a bid to access alternative internet options.
How To Access Starlink & Cost
Users on the ground can access the internet via phased-array user terminals, commonly known as satellite dishes, which are installed at their locations. These dishes automatically align themselves with the passing satellites, allowing for a continuous and stable internet connection.
Therefore, for you to access Starlink’s internet, you will need the satellite dishes that you will need to pay for, plus their shipping to your area. You will also need to pay for a monthly subscription.
Despite its competitively priced internet packages and better speed, its hardware cost of up to Ksh74,000 on introduction proved too costly for potential buyers. This made the company announce offers to reduce the hardware costs to as low as Ksh39,500 and last month, it gave another deal, selling the kit from Ksh29,000.
To attract more customers, Starlink recently introduced a kit rental option in Kenya which saw customers pay a one-time activation fee of Ksh2,700, then a monthly hardware rental fee of Ksh1,950.
Image of a Starlink kit in Kenya. /TECH CABAL
