Kenya to Pay Highest Starlink Set-up Fees in Africa

Oh boy, buckle up, fellow Kenyans! It looks like we’re in for a wild ride on the Starlink express, and our wallets are about to feel the burn. Kenya is set to pay the highest Starlink set-up fees in Africa, and we’re not talking about a small difference here. We’re talking about a gap wider than the Rift Valley!

The Great African Starlink Price Divide

Let’s break it down, shall we? Kenya and Mozambique are sitting pretty at the top of the Starlink set-up fee chart in Africa. It’s like we’ve won a competition we never wanted to enter! Here’s the lowdown on the Starlink set-up fees across Africa:

1. Mozambique: $634 (Ksh94,504)
2. Kenya: $597.1 (Ksh88,999)
3. Malawi: $568.6 (Ksh84,749)
4. Zambia: $499 (Ksh74,389)
5. Rwanda: $397.98 (Ksh59,322)
6. Nigeria: $392.2 (Ksh58,437)

Talk about a price gap! There’s a whopping Ksh36,067 ($241.82) difference between the highest and lowest Starlink set-up fees in Africa. That’s a 38.2% gap, folks! You could probably buy a small herd of goats with that difference.

The Starlink Installation Saga

Now, let’s talk about what you’re actually getting for your hard-earned shillings. The Starlink set-up includes:

• The Starlink dish (aka your personal satellite catcher)
• A mounting stand (because balancing it on your head isn’t recommended)
• Cables (to connect you to the space internet gods)
• A power source (because even space internet needs juice)

But wait, there’s more! In Kenya, you’ll need to cough up an additional Ksh6,500 for monthly subscription and Ksh3,100 for shipping. So, if you’re keeping score, that’s a grand total of Ksh98,599 ($661) just to get started. You could probably buy a small plot in Kitengela for that kind of money!

Starlink’s African Adventure

Elon Musk’s space internet baby isn’t stopping at just six African countries. Oh no, Starlink has big plans for our continent. Next on the list are:

• Tanzania (get ready for space internet on Kilimanjaro!)
• Comoros (because even tiny islands need fast internet)
• Mauritius (for when beach WiFi just isn’t cutting it)
• Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland, now known for space internet)
• Sierra Leone (bringing new meaning to “diamond in the sky”)

The Ups and Downs of Starlink

Now, you might be wondering, “Is it worth selling my kidney for Starlink?” Well, let’s weigh the pros and cons: Pros:

• High-speed internet that’s faster than a cheetah on Red Bull
• Low latency (that’s tech speak for “really responsive”)
• Great for rural areas where traditional internet is as rare as a quiet matatu

Cons:

• The set-up fee is higher than Mount Kenya
• It’s overkill if you live in an area with good fiber connection
• You might need to explain to your neighbors why you have a UFO on your roof

The Starlink Distribution Dance

In a plot twist worthy of a Nollywood movie, Starlink has appointed Jumia as its first distributor in Africa. Yes, you read that right. The e-commerce platform that brings you everything from phones to frying pans will now be selling satellite internet kits. This partnership is like a match made in tech heaven. Jumia knows the ins and outs of African addresses (or lack thereof), while Starlink brings the space-age technology. It’s a win-win situation, especially for Jumia, who gets to be the cool kid on the block with exclusive Starlink distribution rights.

The Future of Internet in Kenya

So, what does this mean for the future of internet in Kenya? Well, it’s like we’re entering a new era of connectivity. Sure, the Starlink set-up fees might be higher than a giraffe’s neck, but it’s bringing high-speed internet to places that have never seen it before.Imagine a future where you can stream your favorite shows without buffering, even if you’re in the middle of the Maasai Mara. Picture farmers in remote areas accessing real-time market prices for their crops. Think about students in rural schools having the same access to online resources as their urban counterparts. Yes, the price is steep, but it’s also a step towards bridging the digital divide in Kenya. It’s like we’re paying the price of admission to the global digital party. And let’s face it, Kenyans know how to party! So, while we might grumble about the Starlink set-up fees, we’re also excited about the possibilities it brings. Who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll look back and laugh about the time when we thought Ksh98,599 was a lot to pay for internet from space.In the meantime, start saving those shillings, folks. The space internet revolution is coming to Kenya, and it’s bringing a hefty price tag with it. But hey, at least we’ll have bragging rights as the country with the most expensive Starlink set-up in Africa. That’s something, right?