ELON MUSK EXPLAINS WHY STARLINK PAUSED NEW SIGN-UPS IN NAIROBI 

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has clarified Starlink’s recent suspension of new subscriptions in Nairobi and other regions. 

The satellite internet provider, which has been a major competitor for local internet service providers (ISPs), temporarily halted new residential and business subscriptions, citing network capacity constraints. Musk clarified that Starlink is actively working to expand internet capacity in densely populated areas, particularly urban centers. 

He encouraged users to consider areas outside cities, where capacity remains. “Starlink is working to increase Internet capacity in dense urban areas in Africa as fast as possible. Please note that there is still significant capacity outside of city centres,” Musk posted on X. 

The company also halted new sign-ups in several other urban centres across Africa, attributing the pause to surging demand. In Nairobi, the temporary hold extends to neighbouring areas such as Kiambu and Machakos, as reflected on Starlink’s availability map. 

The surge in new subscribers in these regions has maxed out the network’s current capacity. The rise in demand follows months of promotional offers on high-speed internet packages. In August 2024, Starlink launched a rental program allowing Kenyans to purchase internet kits and opt for monthly payments.