Starlink has dramatically improved its internet service in Kenya following the launch of a new Point of Presence (PoP) in Nairobi. Latency plummeted from an average of 120 milliseconds to just 26 milliseconds—a performance leap of over 80%.
According to Jimmy Grewal, managing director at Elcome and an authorized Starlink reseller, “In Kenya itself, our customers have seen average latency drop from 120 ms down to 26 ms over the weekend!”
Nairobi PoP: Boosting Starlink Latency in Kenya and Beyond
The Nairobi PoP, which went live in January 2025, is Starlink’s second African ground station after Nigeria. These stations serve as internet gateways that connect satellites to high-speed local fiber networks through internet exchange points (IXPs). By reducing the physical distance user data must travel, latency is dramatically reduced.
Globally, Starlink operates 37 such stations to optimize satellite communication and improve user experience.
###Regional Speed Gains and Lower Starlink Latency in Kenya
Kenya wasn’t the only beneficiary. Countries like Rwanda, Malawi, and Zambia also reported speed and latency improvements. Data from Ookla’s Q1 2025 Speedtest Global Index showed Kenya’s median upload speed more than doubled—hitting 14.85 Mbps.
Latency also improved across East Africa. Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda had the lowest median multi-server latency in Africa at 53ms, 60ms, and 67ms respectively. Kenya and Rwanda alone saw latency reductions of 81% and 70%.
Capacity Relief and Resumed Subscriptions
In late 2024, Starlink paused new account registrations in Nairobi due to congestion. Following the Nairobi PoP upgrade, the company resumed subscriptions in June 2025 after a seven-month freeze.
This move has greatly enhanced Starlink’s ability to handle growing demand in the region.
Starlink Still Faster Than Many ISPs
While fiber networks still win on latency, Starlink’s satellite service outpaces most local ISPs in speed. In countries like Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, Starlink download speeds are two to four times faster, as reported by Techweez.
In Ghana, Rwanda, and Madagascar, the margin narrows, but Starlink still holds a performance edge.
Subscriber Drop Despite Performance Boost
Despite enhanced performance, Starlink is seeing a decline in subscriptions in Kenya. The likely culprits include cost, availability of cheaper fiber alternatives, and limited rural rollout awareness.
Read Also:Starlink Cuts Off South African Users
