By Ken Muthomi - Reporter
Kenya, April 27, 2026 - Amazon, through its local subsidiary Kuiper Kenya, has applied for regulatory approval from the Communications Authority of Kenya to launch its Project Kuiper satellite internet service.
Kuiper seeks a Tier 2 approval from the authority, which, if approved, will give the tech giant a green light to build and run communications infrastructure in the country using any transmission technology.
The license would allow the tech giant to deploy its low-earth orbit satellite network across the country and begin offering broadband services.
The move places Kenya among Amazon’s early African targets, with the company planning to deploy more than 3,200 satellites globally by 2028.
Through Kuiper, Amazon aims to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband, potentially offering speeds up to 400Mbps for standard users and 1,280Mbps for commercial users.
The government has been in talks with the tech company to expand its presence in the country. In late February, ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary John Tanui met with representatives of Amazon’s LEO satellite broadband network to deliberate on the issue.
Tanui revealed that discussions mainly revolved around how the company could support the delivery of fast, reliable, and affordable broadband services to unserved and underserved communities.
“Satellite broadband will be critical in bridging the digital divide, supporting digital government services, enabling remote learning, strengthening healthcare delivery, and unlocking opportunities for youth and enterprises across the country,” PS Tanui said.
The latest move sets up major competition between Jeff Bezos’ Amazon Project Kuiper and Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starlink, which is rapidly growing into a significant internet service provider (ISP) in the region by offering high-speed, low-latency satellite internet.
Starlink, which started with just 405 subscribers when it launched in Kenya in 2023, had grown to more than 19,000 active users by late 2025.
To manage high demand and congestion in urban areas like Nairobi, Starlink launched a local ground station in Nairobi in January 2025, which reduced latency and improved performance for Kenyan users.
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