Amazon has applied for regulatory approval to launch its satellite internet service in Kenya under its local subsidiary, Kuiper Kenya Limited, marking a major step toward entering one of Africa’s most competitive broadband markets.
According to a Kenya Gazette notice published by the Communications Authority of Kenya, the company has applied for a Network Facilities Provider (NFP) Tier 2 licence, the same category currently used by Starlink in Kenya.
If approved, the licence would allow Amazon to build and operate communications infrastructure, including satellite network facilities, and directly provide broadband services in the country.
Licence duration and rollout timeline
The application is being considered as part of Kenya’s standard telecommunications licensing framework.
If granted, an NFP Tier 2 licence is typically issued for a multi-year operational period (commonly up to 15 years under CAK licensing terms, subject to renewal conditions), allowing long-term infrastructure deployment and service provision.
However, Amazon has not yet announced a confirmed commercial launch date in Kenya.
Industry expectations suggest that commercial rollout would begin after full regulatory approval and terminal availability in the region
Early service deployment could align with Amazon’s broader Project Kuiper rollout window, expected to ramp up from mid 2026 onward globally, as satellites are progressively launched and activated
The Kenya filing is part of Amazon’s broader satellite internet strategy, known as Project Kuiper (also branded Amazon Leo), which aims to deploy more than 3,200 low Earth orbit satellites by 2028.
Once operational in Kenya, the service is expected to offer broadband speeds of up to 400 Mbps, provide user terminal kits for direct satellite connectivity, and target rural and underserved areas with limited fibre coverage.
Growing competition with Starlink
Amazon’s entry would place it in direct competition with SpaceX’s Starlink, which already operates in Kenya and has rapidly scaled its user base.
As of late 2025, Starlink had more than 22,000 subscribers in Kenya, becoming the eighth-largest internet service provider in the country, driven by flexible pricing and strong rural demand.
Amazon has already engaged Kenyan authorities ahead of the application.
In February, Amazon Leo representatives led by Farouk Shamas Jiwa, Senior Manager for International Public Policy, met with John Kipchumba Tanui, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy, to discuss expanding broadband access through satellite technology.
If the licence is approved, Amazon will be allowed to deploy infrastructure and operate legally in Kenya. Ground station and user terminal deployment would follow. However, its commercial service rollout is expected to depend on satellite deployment progress and regulatory clearance
Kenya could then become one of the first African markets where both Starlink and Amazon Kuiper operate side-by-side, accelerating competition in satellite broadband and potentially improving connectivity access and pricing across the country.
However, success for Amazon will likely depend on pricing strategy, device affordability, and regulatory approval timelines, factors that have also shaped Starlink’s adoption curve in the region.
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