Safaricom Aims to Launch a Satellite Internet Service to Challenge Starlink in Kenya

Safaricom, a Kenyan telecom, has set out plans to launch its satellite internet services to compete with SpaceX. It’s said that the US-based space exploration business is also planning to release its satellite internet services, Starlink, in the nation.

To make this plan a success, Safaricom will work together with AST SpaceMobile, also known to be Starlink's rival. 

Safaricom plans to strengthen its internet offerings, including, Wi-Fi, and fiber optic cables, by using AST SpaceMobile's satellite Internet. 

AST SpaceMobile is a firm established in the United States, to create a space-oriented network that will give remote regions, satellite-based Internet connectivity. 

To deliver low-cost broadband access to rural areas, it combines satellites that can interface directly with conventional 4G cell phones. 

As a result, it will be the first business to link smartphones to a space-based internet network. Bluewalker 3, AST SpaceMobile's prototype satellite, had first testing in 2022 and is scheduled for a formal trial in Kenya later this year. 

Safaricom and other African Vodacom carriers will take part in the study. The study will employ 200 satellites spread throughout 49 African, European, and Caribbean nations. 

Following the completion of the formal trial, AST SpaceMobile intends to expand its satellite installations in conjunction with Vodacom to deliver continuous connections to 4G smartphones across Africa and beyond.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk's Starlink has begun operations in numerous African countries, including Nigeria, Rwanda, and Mozambique. 

SpaceX announced in Kenya that its satellite-based services will be accessible starting in Q2 2023, but the company has yet to launch.

Starlink has sought permission to operate in Kenya, although it is unclear when or how much the service would cost.

The service, according to the company's website, costs KSh 6500 a month plus a KSh 89,000 setup fee for the equipment, which comprises a tiny satellite dish and a Wi-Fi router.

Furthermore, Safaricom's entry into the satellite Internet market poses a substantial challenge to Starlink.

Safaricom may be able to preserve its market domination in Kenya thanks to its agreement with the mobile phone-focused AST SpaceMobile. 

Although, there may be some issues with Safaricom's satellite Internet service, such as the pricing, which may be too expensive for certain consumers who rely on low-cost data bundles and free public Wi-Fi hotspots.