Starlink Cuts Upfront Cost with New Instalment Payment Plan to Attract Kenyan Users

By benadeta mwaura - Reporter

Kenya, January 15 2026 - Elon Musk owned satellite internet provider Starlink has unveiled a new instalment payment option for its portable “mini” internet kit in Kenya, a move aimed at lowering the barrier to entry for consumers and boosting subscriptions in a highly competitive internet market.

Under the new plan, customers in Kenya will pay an initial Sh6,750 for the mini kit, compared with the full retail price of Sh27,000, along with a mandatory activation charge of Sh16,250 and shipping and handling fees of Sh3,010. The remaining hardware cost is spread over six monthly instalments of Sh4,500 each. In addition, users still pay Starlink’s standard Sh6,500 monthly internet subscription fee for the residential service.

The instalment option significantly reduces the upfront cash requirement for many potential customers, addressing a key obstacle, the high hardware cost, that has constrained broader adoption of Starlink’s satellite broadband in Kenya. The mini kit, introduced locally in September 2024, was already offered at a lower price than the standard hardware, which previously retailed around Sh49,900, but the upfront cost continued to be a deterrent for price sensitive users.

Similar financing options have been seen in other markets, where Starlink and partners have experimented with monthly payment plans to spread the cost of hardware over a set term, such as options in other countries where satellite dishes could be paid for over 12 months.

Starlink’s move comes as the firm seeks to expand its subscriber base amid stiff competition from terrestrial internet service providers. Local fibre and mobile broadband operators have aggressively cut prices and introduced promotions to defend market share, particularly in urban and periurban areas where demand is growing.

For example, Safaricom recently cut business fibre prices by up to 25% as part of a strategic move to bolster uptake and compete with satellite alternatives. Starlink currently holds a minor share of Kenya’s overall internet market, estimated at under 1% of total broadband subscriptions, even though it accounts for a substantial portion of satellite internet users.

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Local regulatory data in 2025 showed Starlink controlled approximately 0.8% of the nation’s internet market share as traditional broadband and mobile services dominate. The instalment plan follows a broader trend of flexible pricing strategies by Starlink in Kenya, which has included earlier price cuts on hardware, lower cost data packages, and rental options for equipment to make its offerings more accessible.

A rental option introduced in mid2024 allowed users to pay a monthly fee for the hardware, bypassing the need for full upfront purchase. For potential users, the instalment plan could unlock access to highspeed satellite internet, particularly in rural and remote areas where fibre or mobile broadband coverage is limited or inconsistent.

Starlink’s satellite constellation, with thousands of loworbit satellites, is designed to provide reliable connectivity in locations that are traditionally underserved by terrestrial networks. However, customers should be mindful that while the initial cost is lower, the total cost over time may still be significant, and the monthly subscription fees remain comparable to or higher than local mobile broadband options depending on data usage and service plans.

Starlink’s instalment plan signals an intensified push to grow its Kenyan user base by addressing affordability barriers. As the company competes with entrenched telecom firms and adapts its pricing strategies, its success will likely hinge on balancing customer acquisition with service quality, capacity expansion and pricing competitiveness in a dynamic telecommunications market.