Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang'ata and Paratus, Kenya, led by Managing Director Joseph Kibiwott,Millions of Kenyans living in remote and underserved areas continue to face limited access to reliable internet connectivity, creating a digital divide at a time when essential services are increasingly moving online.
Now, satellite internet technology is being explored as one way of reaching communities that remain beyond the reach of conventional connectivity infrastructure.
Paratus Kenya, in partnership with Starlink, is rolling out satellite internet services in remote parts of the country, targeting areas where access to reliable connectivity remains a challenge.
The technology is being tested in sectors such as healthcare and education, where stable internet access is increasingly becoming critical to service delivery.
Speaking in Nairobi, Paratus Kenya Managing Director Joseph Kibiwott said the company is looking at ways of extending connectivity to underserved areas across the country.
The technology is already being piloted in Murang'a County, where Governor Irungu Kang'ata says satellite connectivity has been used in areas including telemedicine.
The county is also exploring the use of the technology in ambulances to facilitate access to medical services while on the move.
Kang'ata says the county has also recorded changes in how its departments access digital services since the pilot programme began, including a reduction in expenditure on internet services.
The deployment comes as Kenya seeks to expand digital access beyond major towns and urban centres, where traditional connectivity infrastructure is more readily available.
Paratus says it is also looking at expanding the satellite connectivity model to other East African countries, potentially opening up internet access in areas where terrestrial infrastructure remains limited.
As more public services move online, the question of how to connect communities in the country's most remote areas remains a key challenge, and satellite technology is increasingly emerging as one of the options being considered.
