In order to compete with SpaceX, a US-based space exploration corporation preparing to launch its service, Starlink, in the nation, Kenyan telecom Safaricom aims to roll out satellite Internet services.
To provide this service, the telco will work with Starlink rival AST SpaceMobile.
Safaricom plans to enhance its broadband offerings, including Wi-Fi, cellular networks, and fiber optic cables, using AST SpaceMobile’s satellite Internet.
A US-based firm called AST SpaceMobile is creating a space-oriented network that will offer satellite-based Internet connection to far-off places.
To deliver low-cost broadband connectivity to rural and isolated locations, it makes use of a network of satellites that can interface directly with typical 4G cellphones.
It will be the first business to make it possible for smartphones to connect to the space-based broadband network.
The Bluewalker 3 prototype satellite from AST SpaceMobile performed preliminary testing in 2022 and will undergo a formal trial in Kenya later that year.
The trial will include participation from the Vodacom group’s African operators, including Safaricom. 200 satellites will be used for the testing over 49 African, European, and Caribbean nations.
Vodacom and Vodafone are shareholders in Safaricom, for context.
Following the formal trial, AST SpaceMobile intends to increase the number of satellites it deploys in conjunction with Vodacom in order to continuously connect 4G devices throughout Africa and beyond.
Meanwhile, Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, has begun operations in a number of African countries, including Nigeria, Rwanda, and Mozambique.
Although SpaceX has not yet launched, it previously announced in Kenya that its satellite-based services would be accessible starting in the second quarter of 2023.
Although Starlink has applied for a license to operate in Kenya, it is unclear when or how much the service would cost.
The package, which comprises a small satellite dish and a Wi-Fi router, is shown on the company’s website to cost KSh 6500 per month plus a KSh 89,000 setup fee for the equipment.
A major threat for Starlink is also posed by Safaricom’s entry into the satellite Internet sector.
The partnership between Safaricom and the mobile phone-focused AST SpaceMobile may let it to continue to dominate the Kenyan market.
Safaricom’s satellite Internet service, meanwhile, may have some drawbacks. For instance, the cost may be too costly for certain users who are on a limited budget and rely on cheap data bundles and free public Wi-Fi hotspots.
