American satellite internet startup Spacecoin has secured regulatory approval to roll out satellite broadband services in Kenya, setting the stage for the first serious challenge to Starlink’s near-total dominance of the country’s satellite connectivity market.
The licence, issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), allows Spacecoin to deploy satellite-based broadband and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, with Kenya positioned as a pilot market for its wider African expansion.
CA data shows Elon Musk-owned Starlink controls more than 98 percent of Kenya’s satellite internet market, accounting for 19 470 of the country’s 19,762 satellite subscribers.
Spacecoin’s entry, though modest in scale for now, signals growing regulatory and commercial appetite for alternatives in a market increasingly critical to last-mile connectivity.
“Regulatory bodies are recognising that decentralised satellite technology can deliver the scalability and affordability that traditional infrastructure cannot,” said Spacecoin founder Tae Oh. “Kenya’s approval reflects a shift towards more inclusive connectivity models for underserved regions.”
Beyond Kenya, Spacecoin has also secured regulatory clearance in Nigeria through its parent company, Space Telecommunications, and is targeting further pilots in Indonesia and Cambodia.
In Africa, Nigeria is expected to be a second anchor market, reflecting its large unconnected population and rising demand for non-terrestrial broadband solutions.
Spacecoin has so far launched four low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, forming its initial constellation.
While this is a fraction of Starlink’s thousands of satellites already in orbit, the company is positioning itself as a lower-cost, open-source alternative that works through local partners rather than direct-to-consumer sales.
This partnership-driven approach could appeal to governments keen to localise operations and reduce reliance on a single global provider.
For Starlink, Spacecoin’s arrival is less an immediate threat than an early warning. However, it comes amid intensifying competition across Africa’s satellite market.
Starlink is now operational in more than 25 African countries, but it is no longer alone.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper has secured licences in Nigeria, while traditional players such as Eutelsat, SES, Intelsat, Viasat, Iridium, Globalstar and Omnispace continue to serve enterprise, aviation, maritime and government clients.
Kenya’s satellite internet segment, once dominated by corporate and NGO users in remote areas, has expanded rapidly since Starlink’s entry, reshaping expectations around speed, latency and affordability.
Spacecoin’s decentralised model adds a new dimension, particularly for rural connectivity, smart agriculture and IoT-driven services.
“These partnerships show that Spacecoin is no longer just an idea, but a growing movement. It’s about building connectivity powered by people and built for people,” Oh said.
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