Safaricom is laying the groundwork for potential partnerships with satellite internet firms in a bid to extend broadband access to hard-to-reach communities and safeguard its dominance in Kenya’s fast-evolving connectivity market.

Speaking during the company’s full-year result briefing on Friday, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa positioned the move as part of a broader plan to grow Safaricom’s fixed internet business, which is facing mounting pressure from emerging global competitors.

“This is a business (broadband) with a huge growth potential,” he said.

“We are focused on delivering fixed broadband solutions through fibre, fixed wireless, satellite, and other evolving technologies. We are also looking at opportunities to partner with satellite to offer more options and reach for our customers.”

The company, which commands 36.1 per cent of Kenya’s broadband market, is increasingly looking beyond traditional fibre and mobile offerings to retain its lead.

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The push for satellite connectivity is particularly timely, coming as international providers like Starlink gain ground across Africa.

Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has already teamed up with Airtel Africa and intends to roll out services in nine countries, including Kenya.

While Safaricom has not disclosed who it is in talks with, the timing of its announcement has drawn attention, especially as competitors make aggressive moves into underserved territories.

Satellite technology offers a compelling solution for rural areas that remain out of reach for fibre or fixed wireless, and could play a critical role in raising Kenya’s current internet penetration rate, which stands at just 40 per cent.

For Safaricom, integrating satellite services could offer both a competitive edge and a lifeline to millions living beyond the reach of conventional networks.

With digital infrastructure increasingly shaping economic opportunity, the telco appears to be recalibrating its long-term strategy to ensure it stays ahead in a market no longer defined by terrestrial limitations alone.

Whether this shift leads to a formal deal with Starlink or another global player remains to be seen, but the intent is clear: Safaricom is preparing to compete in a broadband future where satellites may be just as vital as fibre.