TECHNOLOGY

New Starlink Customers to Pay KSh 12,899 Congestion Fee

SpaceX, the satellite internet provider owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has introduced a new congestion fee for new Starlink subscribers in Kenya. The company announced that the one-time charge of KSh 12,899 will apply to new customers in areas with limited network capacity. This congestion fee will be required when purchasing or activating a new Starlink service plan.

According to Starlink, the congestion fee is designed to help manage high-demand regions and will be removed once the network capacity improves. Importantly, this fee only applies to new customers. If users change their service address or plan at a later time, the congestion fee may be charged again.

Why the Congestion Fee?

The congestion fee is meant to address network demand in areas where Starlink’s satellite capacity is strained. According to reports, the fee has been implemented in the US, with customers paying $100 (around KSh 12,899) based on their location.

Starlink which is owned by billionaire Mark Zuckerberg is set to charge 12,000 congestion fees
Starlink is owned by US tech billionaire Elon Musk | COURTESY

Before the new congestion fee, Starlink had rolled out discounted offers for Kenyan subscribers. New customers could get the Starlink kit for KSh 29,999, down from the original price of KSh 45,500. Additionally, there’s a KSh 6,500 installation fee, and monthly service plans start as low as KSh 1,300. Starlink entered the Kenyan market in July 2023. It has quickly become a popular choice for high-speed, unlimited internet access, especially in rural areas with limited connectivity options.

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About Mboto Harry Ivan

Mboto Harry is a Linguistics, Media and Communication student at Moi University. He is a print and digital journalist with 3+ years of writing quality and engaging news articles and feature stories across various platforms. Email: harryivan272@gmail.com | WhatsApp: +254102796337

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