A United States-based satellite internet startup, Spacecoin, has been licensed to operate in Kenya, becoming the latest entrant into the country’s fast-evolving connectivity market and a potential rival to Elon Musk’s Starlink.
The company said on January 14 that it had received a transmission licence from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), clearing the way for it to begin offering satellite-based internet services in the East African nation.
The approval marks a key step in Spacecoin’s global expansion strategy, which targets underserved and remote regions where traditional fibre and mobile networks are limited or prohibitively expensive to deploy.
Kenya becomes one of four countries where Spacecoin has secured regulatory approval or partnerships to launch pilot services, alongside Nigeria, Indonesia and Cambodia.
In a statement announcing the licence, the company said the approvals reflected months of behind-the-scenes work, strategic agreements and regulatory engagement across Africa and Asia.
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“Today, we’re sharing the results of all our hard work behind the scenes, strategic agreements and collaborations across Africa and Asia, helping us leap forward in making permissionless connectivity a reality,” Spacecoin said.
The company aims to challenge existing satellite and terrestrial connectivity models, positioning itself as an alternative to established players such as Starlink, which has rapidly expanded its footprint across Africa over the past two years.
Partnership-driven rollout
Spacecoin said its pilot deployments will follow a partnership-based model in each licensed market. Under the approach, the company will supply satellite infrastructure and core technology, while local partners handle ground operations, customer support and regulatory compliance.
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The firm says this structure allows it to tailor services to local market needs and align with national regulatory frameworks.
The pilots will focus primarily on rural and remote communities, with services designed to support broadband internet access, Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, sensor networks and software-based digital tools.
According to the company, the technology could support use cases ranging from education and healthcare to agriculture, logistics and small business operations, particularly in areas where connectivity remains unreliable or absent.
Africa and Asia expansion
In Kenya, the CA licence permits Spacecoin to deploy satellite-based connectivity and IoT monitoring solutions, enabling it to target regions that remain under-connected despite the country’s relatively advanced telecom sector.
Kenya has emerged as a regional technology hub, but access gaps persist between urban centres and rural communities, especially in northern and arid counties.
In Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, Spacecoin is building on an existing licence from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The company says it intends to support rural broadband access and lower the cost of connectivity in areas poorly served by mobile networks.
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Nigeria has become a key battleground for satellite internet providers as demand for alternative connectivity grows amid congestion and infrastructure constraints.
In Southeast Asia, Spacecoin has entered a partnership with Cambodian internet service provider MekongNet to extend its services in the country. In Indonesia, the firm is working with local partners and government agencies to reach remote islands and hard-to-access regions.
Indonesia’s vast archipelago has long posed challenges for conventional telecom infrastructure, making satellite connectivity an increasingly attractive option.
Technology and regulation
Spacecoin’s founder, Tae Oh, said regulators in multiple regions were beginning to recognise the potential of decentralised satellite technology to deliver scalable and affordable internet access.
“Regulatory bodies in key regions are recognising that decentralised satellite technology can deliver the scalability and affordability traditional infrastructure cannot,” Oh said.
He added that the company’s recent licensing milestones showed that Spacecoin had moved beyond the conceptual stage.
“These agreements confirm that Spacecoin has moved beyond being just an idea, but a real movement with momentum,” he said, adding that the company aims to unlock “permissionless connectivity” through open-source satellite technology.
The entry of Spacecoin adds to growing competition in Kenya’s connectivity landscape, as governments across Africa weigh the benefits of satellite internet against regulatory, security and market concerns.
