Starlink, the satellite tv for pc web service operated by SpaceX, has develop into Nigeria’s second-largest web service supplier (ISP), overtaking FiberOne Broadband Restricted in This fall 2024, in line with knowledge from the Nigerian Communications Fee (NCC). Regardless of its premium pricing, Starlink’s consumer base greater than doubled inside a 12 months, surging from 23,897 subscribers in 2023 to 65,564 by the top of 2024. This speedy progress displays the growing demand for its high-speed connectivity, which delivers speeds of as much as 250 Mbps—far exceeding what most native ISPs supply.
Regardless of a decline in subscribers, Spectranet stays the market chief. Its subscriber base declined from 113,869 on the finish of 2023 to 105,441 in Q3 2024, a lack of 8,428 customers, in line with NCC knowledge. This quantity remained unchanged in This fall. In contrast to Starlink, which operates by way of satellite tv for pc, Spectranet is determined by fiber and terrestrial wi-fi networks—each of which require costly right-of-way charges, tower installations, and energy infrastructure.
Starlink’s progress comes amid rising client complaints of persistent poor web high quality provided by cellular community operators and ISPs. In contrast to its rivals, the satellite tv for pc web supplier continues to increase its satellite tv for pc community globally, bettering speeds, lowering latency, and enhancing service reliability. As of February 2025, SpaceX had launched 8,039 Starlink satellites, 7,082 of which have been nonetheless in orbit and seven,049 operational.
“So far as them (Starlink) being the second-largest ISP now, it is smart,” mentioned Ladi Okuneye, CEO of UniCloud, an area cloud infrastructure supplier. “Satellite tv for pc know-how’s ubiquitous nature means you may join a buyer at this time in Ikoyi and one other in Ikot Ekpene with out being restricted by the geographical limitations of fiber or terrestrial wi-fi options.”
In December 2024, Starlink introduced a rise in its month-to-month subscription charges in Nigeria, doubling the price of its commonplace residential service from ₦38,000 to ₦75,000 monthly. The hike affected new prospects, whereas present customers have been set to transition to the brand new price on January 27, 2025. Nonetheless, as demand surged, Starlink put the tariff adjustment on maintain.
This wasn’t the primary time Starlink confronted pricing challenges in Nigeria. In October 2024, the Nigerian Communications Fee (NCC) blocked a earlier try to lift tariffs, saying the corporate had not adopted the right regulatory procedures. The NCC later accepted the hike on February 4, 2025, permitting telecom operators to regulate their costs. Nonetheless, whereas operators comparable to MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, and Smile Communications have elevated their costs, Starlink has but to implement the rise.
Regardless of its speedy progress, Starlink faces limitations. At present, subscribers can solely use the service in a set location, making it troublesome for cellular customers to remain linked on the transfer. In 2024, Starlink started rolling out satellite-to-phone connectivity to remove cellular useless zones, however this service has not but reached Africa.
As demand for dependable web entry grows, Starlink’s increasing presence in Nigeria indicators a shift within the nation’s broadband panorama. Nonetheless, regulatory hurdles, pricing issues, and cellular connectivity challenges stay key components in its long-term success.