Kenya’s proposed metered internet plan is facing pushback, South Africa is trying a new wholesale 5G broadband model and SpaceX is preparing to add 29 more Starlink satellites.

1. Kenya’s internet billing fight is heating up.
   Liquid Intelligent Technologies has told Parliament that the proposed metered internet system could raise costs and put unlimited fibre packages under pressure. The proposal is still a Bill, not law, but ISPs and lawmakers are now openly debating what it could mean for internet prices.
2. South Africa is opening a new lane for ISPs with wholesale 5G.
   Comsol has secured funding to build a large 5G broadband network that other ISPs can use to sell internet to their own customers. The model could give smaller providers a way to offer fast home internet without building the entire network themselves.
3. SpaceX is adding more firepower to Starlink.
   The company has another 29-satellite Starlink mission lined up from Florida after the previous attempt was delayed. The growing constellation is designed to add capacity as Starlink gains more customers around the world, including in Africa.

Kenya’s metered internet plan faces pushback

Kenya is debating a proposal that could change how people pay for internet. The proposed Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill would require internet providers to measure customer usage and introduce metering into their billing systems. The Bill is still being considered by Parliament. It has not become law.

Liquid Intelligent Technologies is among the providers objecting to the proposal. The company says mandatory metering could increase the cost of internet services and put pressure on the unlimited packages that many Kenyan homes and businesses use today. The company also argues that the move could hurt the wider digital economy.

Jamii Telecommunications, which operates Faiba, has also raised concerns about the proposal. Its objections include higher costs, the effect on unlimited fibre packages and concerns about how detailed customer usage information would be handled.

Why it matters: The issue is bigger than changing a billing system. If the proposal moves forward in its current form, ISPs could have to invest in new software and tracking systems. Customers could also face a very different way of paying for broadband.

Bottom line: Kenya is not banning unlimited internet today. Parliament is still considering the proposal, so the final rules could change before anything becomes law.

South Africa is opening its 5G network to other ISPs

South Africa is testing a different way to build broadband businesses. Comsol has launched a wholesale 5G-Advanced model that allows other ISPs and broadband companies to use its network instead of building the whole network themselves.

The idea is pretty simple. Comsol builds and operates the network, while other companies can focus on selling internet, billing customers and providing support. The company says its network already reaches more than 1 million households in Gauteng and that it plans to build about 2,000 5G-Advanced base stations.

That could make it easier for smaller providers to enter the home broadband market. Instead of spending huge amounts on towers, radios and other equipment, an ISP could use a wholesale network and concentrate on winning customers.

Why it matters: This could become another option between fibre and traditional WISP networks. It also shows how the broadband market is changing, with more companies sharing infrastructure instead of each building everything from scratch.

Bottom line: Kenyan ISPs should watch this model closely. A similar setup could help smaller providers offer fast home internet without having to build a nationwide network.

SpaceX is adding 29 more Starlink satellites

SpaceX is preparing to launch another 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral in Florida on Friday, August 21. The mission, known as Starlink Group 10-39, is currently listed as ready to launch at around 15:14 UTC.

The launch follows another Starlink mission on August 19, when SpaceX sent 24 more satellites into orbit. That mission was successful and brought the Starlink network close to 11,000 operational satellites, according to Space.com.

More satellites give Starlink more room to expand its network and serve customers. But that does not mean Kenyan users will suddenly get faster internet after one launch. Local demand, network capacity and ground infrastructure all play a part.

Why it matters: Starlink is still growing at a remarkable pace. More satellites mean more capacity over time, which is important as the company adds customers in Africa and other markets.

Bottom line: SpaceX is building Starlink for the long haul. For Kenyan ISPs, the message is clear: satellite internet is not slowing down. Local providers will need to compete on reliability, support, pricing and services that satellite operators cannot easily match.

The takeaway

For Kenya’s internet market, regulation, new broadband models and satellite competition are all moving at the same time. That means ISPs have more competition to worry about, but also more ways to build and sell internet services.