Safaricom V Starlink: MP Vows To Formulate Regulations That'll Protect Local Telco From Competition
- Safaricom urged the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to regulate satellite internet service providers like Starlink
- Starlink, owned by American billionaire Elon Musk, posted competition to Safaricom and other local internet service providers after launching in July 2023
- Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji pledged to support Safaricom in its quest to have the government regulate satellite internet providers
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TUKO.co.ke journalist Wycliffe Musalia has over five years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting and offers deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.
Starlink Internet could soon be regulated by the Kenyan government after a year of stiff competition to local internet service providers (ISPs).
This followed Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji's announcement of plans to formulate a regulatory framework governing satellite internet providers.
Why MP wants Safaricom protected from Starlink competition
Speaking on Friday, September 6, Mukunji vowed to run a motion in the National Assembly when MPs resume from the August holiday that will protect Safaricom and other local ISPs.
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The lawmaker said Starlink is only benefiting from Kenyans but cannot give back to the country like Safaricom.
"A company that is bringing internet from America called Starlink, which actually we cannot even get anything from them. I want to tell Safaricom, that when I go back to the National Assembly, we must discuss and know how we are going to deal with competitors who cannot give back to our communities, yet they are benefiting from our money," said Mukunji.
MP's proposal to fight Starlink competition
Mukunji noted that Safaricom has laid fiber optic cables that relay internet all over the country.
The MP argued that Starlink only uses satellite to relay internet and competing with Safaricom, which has invested in the infrastructure, will not be fair.
"We do not want to say monopoly is okay, but we want to say there should be fairness for companies that are bringing back and are employing our people so that we do not run down our companies for the benefit of people from America and other countries because of capitalism that has no borders," he said.
Safaricom requests govt to regulate Starlink
The legislator's sentiments came after Safaricom wrote to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) over Starlink satellite internet.
Safaricom urged CA to regulate satellite internet service providers like Starlink
The Elon Musk-owned American company posted competition to Safaricom and other local internet service providers after launching in July 2023.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
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Mukunji promised to bring a motion in parliament that will regulate satellite internet providers like Starlink.
Starlink launches in Kenya, faces competition from Safaricom's
Safaricom to launch satellite internet to compete with Starlink
