Starlinks role in enabling IoT applications in Kenya.

Starlink is the world's first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more. Leveraging advanced satellites and user hardware coupled with our deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations, Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world.

OVERVIEW OF IoT IN KENYA

The Internet of Things in Kenya has grown in the past few years. The government of Kenya has been in the forefront to promote its growth in Africa. This was with the aim of ICT contributing to Kenya’s GDP. For example, in 2021, the government of Kenya developed the Digital Economy Strategy outlining the three policy areas to maximize IoT’s potential.

Various utility sectors have adopted IoT in Kenya. These sectors include transportation, energy, waste management, water, and sanitation. The energy sector has adopted IoT in the form of smart metering, micro grids, and PAYG cooking. In the water sector, water treatment, smart water meters, water ATMs, and supply network monitoring are few of the IoT applications available. In the waste management industry, the most prevalent IoT use cases are smart bins. In Kenya, transportation is the industry with the highest IoT use cases. The sector has embraced IoT through various applications such as asset tracking, smart public transport, delivery drones, and electric vehicles.

IoT companies in Kenya include Safaricom, Numeral IoT, Safetrac limited.

STARLINK’S IMPACT ON KENYA

Starlink uses satellite internet which is powered by satellites in space that orbit around the Earth and transmit signals to an internet service provider, then to the internet modem at home or office. Satellite internet comes in handy in rural areas where broadband internet options such as cable or fibre optic are not available.

ADVANTAGES OF STARLINK TO IoT IN KENYA

Reliability and low latency: Starlink’s satelite-based internet can greatly improve IoT networks in rural areas. This is due to the fact that starlink does not rely on cable or fibre optic. This makes it available anywhere in Kenya and all required is a modem or a router. This makes IoT networks available to everyone even in rural areas.

Affordability: Starlink introduced a new rental-kit to the Kenyan market to make its satellite internet services more accessible. With the new kit, customers can now rent the hardware for KSH 1,950 (USD 15) a month, with an additional one-time activation fee of KSH 2,730 (USD 21). This move addresses concerns over the high initial cost that has hindered its progressive adoption since Starlink entered the Kenyan market in July last year. This makes it widely available to people of different classes, this increases the reach of IoT in Kenya. 

Scalability and coverage: Starlink provides a wide area coverage. This makes sure that all IoT devices even in remote or hard to reach areas get internet coverage. This is due to the fact that starlinks internet is available everywhere.

No data caps: Starlink unlike other internet providers does away with data caps, data caps limit the users bandwith and requires one to pay more money to be upgraded to a higher bandwidth. Starlinks offers the same speed for every user with a single standard price, this attracts a lot of internet users which makes IoT network spread throughout Kenya.

Local competitors: With the arrival of starlink in Kenya, many local internet service providers were forced to wake up due to the sudden appearance of a worthy competitor, this can cause the improvement of local service providers in order to curb the foreign competitor.

RISK OF STARLINK ENABLING IoT DEVICES IN KENYA

The main risk posed is the exposure of sensitive internal information to a foreign country technology. This could even pose a threat in terms of national security.

CONCLUSION

Starlink has and will played a big role in enabling IoT devices in Kenya due to its great availability and cost friendly prices. It will greatly improve the IoT network in Kenya benefiting Kenyans and the growth of Kenya.