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Starlink Pauses New Sign-Ups in African Cities Due to High Demand
Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has temporarily stopped accepting new sign-ups in several urban areas across Africa. This decision comes after an overwhelming surge in demand that has strained the network’s capacity.
Reasons for the Pause
- The high interest in Starlink’s service in densely populated cities like Nairobi, Lagos, and Harare has exceeded the current network capabilities, leading to a pause in new registrations[1][4][5].
Elon Musk’s Response
- Elon Musk stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Starlink is working to increase internet capacity in Africa’s urban areas as quickly as possible to meet the demand. He noted that there is still significant capacity available outside of city centers[1][4][5].
Impact and Demand
- The rapid adoption of Starlink in Africa, especially in areas with limited internet options, has driven a significant reliance on the service. In Nigeria, Starlink has over 23,000 subscribers and is the third-largest internet service provider. In Kenya, it ranks as the 10th largest with about 8,000 subscribers[2][4].
Ongoing Efforts
- Despite the pause in new sign-ups in major cities, Starlink continues to have considerable capacity available in areas outside city centers. The company is focused on expanding its infrastructure to improve service in high-density regions[1][4][5].
Regulatory and Market Challenges
- Starlink faces regulatory hurdles and resistance from local telecom companies. For instance, Cameroon banned the import of Starlink kits in April, and Safaricom in Kenya has asked for stricter licensing requirements for satellite-based internet providers[2][4].
Future Outlook
- Starlink is working to address the capacity issues and meet the growing demand in urban areas. The company aims to provide fast and reliable satellite internet, bridging the digital divides across both remote and urban regions in Africa[1][4][5].
