Amazon Kuiper Kenya Limited has officially applied to the Communications Authority of Kenya for a Network Facilities Provider (NFP) Tier 2 licence, signalling a direct competition with Elon Musk's Starlink in Kenya's satellite internet market.

• The licence allows Amazon to build and operate countrywide communications infrastructure, including satellite systems, with a 15-year validity.
• Jeff Bezos' Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) service aims to offer speeds up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload, potentially undercutting Starlink on upload performance.
• Vodafone, a major shareholder in Safaricom, has partnered with Amazon Leo for cellular backhaul, suggesting a potential behind-the-scenes collaboration for expanding mobile coverage.