Broadband Internet system Starlink, owned by Tesla and Twitter CEO Elon Musk, is set to fight for its share of the Nigerian internet space, following its proposed launch before the end of 2022 or thereabout.
The launch is coming months after the Internet Service system was on May 2022 approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to begin operations in Nigeria.
According to Nigeria’s minister of communications and digital economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, he said “As part of the partnership, Space X is to provide broadband access across the whole of Nigeria, enabling nationwide access to broadband connectivity way ahead of the December 2025 schedule, as outlined in our National Broadband Plan. With this collaboration with SpaceX’s Starlink, Nigeria is set to be the 1st African country to introduce the service.”
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The NCC had earlier disclosed that Starlink had received two licenses to commence operations in Nigeria, which are the International Gateway license and Internet Service Provider license, and will be trading as Starlink Internet Services Nigeria Ltd.
The company’s CEO Elon Musk had on May 27, 2022, made this known via his Twitter handle, where he stated that Starlink has been licensed to operate in Nigeria and East African country Mozambique.
Starlink approved by Nigeria ?? & Mozambique ??https://t.co/Q1VvqVmJ2i
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 27, 2022
Although, Starlink failed to commence operation in Nigeria after its initial proposed date. Recall that in July 2022, Musk took to his Twitter handle to disclose that Starlink would become active in Nigeria in August 2022, which he urged potential users to begin ordering the $99 starter kits.
Following Musk’s comment, the official Starlink website disclosed that the internet service provider intends to begin service in the fourth quarter of 2022, further stating some criteria for its availability to potential customers.
“Order now. Starlink is targeting service in your area starting in Q4 2022. Availability is subject to regulatory approval. Within each coverage area, orders are fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis,” the website read.
But ever since then, the internet provider is yet to begin operation in Africa’s most populated country. The internet service provider currently operates in more than 30 countries where it is legally approved.
Its launch in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, has been in the works since 2021. Last May, SpaceX sent some representatives to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the country’s telecommunications regulator, to discuss the possibility of obtaining a license to operate Starlink in Nigeria.
Starlink is a low-latency broadband internet system created to meet the needs of consumers in rural areas with low internet penetration across the globe.
It delivers super-fast internet via satellites to rural areas, and it is theoretically capable of delivering 150Mbps internet speeds to any place on the planet.
It’s high-speed, low-latency service is made possible via the world’s largest constellation of highly advanced satellites operating in a low orbit around the Earth.
Starlink is renowned for its impressive internet speed of 104Mbps, a sharp contrast to the average cellular internet speed of 17.38Mbps. Furthermore, the use of the LEO satellites is likely to significantly reduce internet downtimes.
Once users purchase the Starlink Kit, it comes with everything they need to get online in minutes including the Starlink, WiFi router, cables, and base.
Its arrival in Nigeria, will no doubt heighten the competition amongst Nigerian telecom operators such as MTN, Airtel, and 9mobile, who have continued to compete against each other by offering affordable and fast internet services to their customers.
A point of correction. Although Mozambique is on the Eastern side of the Southern African continent, it is not referred to as an East African country but a Southern African country.
East African countries are countries like Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda.