Everything To Know About Elon Musk’s Starlink in Nigeria

The world’s richest man, Elon Musk recently revealed that his satellite internet venture, Starlink has been approved to operate in Nigeria. The billionaire made this known via his Twitter account on Friday, stating that Starlink had been licensed to operate in Nigeria and Mozambique.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)  also confirmed the news to Nairametrics. They revealed that the company has received two licenses to commence operations in the country, which include the International Gateway license and Internet Service Provider (ISP) license.

According to the commission, the International Gateway and the ISP licenses have 10-year and 5-year tenure respectively. Both licenses take effect from May 2022 and may be renewed after the expiration.

But what is Starlink? how do they operate, how much does it cost and what are its benefits to Nigerians?

What is Starlink?

Starlink is a satellite internet constellation, a division under SpaceX.  The company provides satellite Internet access coverage to 32 countries. The venture began in 2015 with the aim of providing global internet coverage through space satellites.

It launched its first satellite in 2019  and presently boasts of more than 2,000 functional satellites orbiting overhead and now offers service in 32 countries around the world.

How does it work?

As earlier stated, the aim of Starlink is to provide global internet coverage through space satellites. According to the website, “Starlink is ideally suited for areas of the globe where connectivity has typically been a challenge”.

Without relying on the traditional ground infrastructure, The company delivers  high-speed broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable or completely unavailable

All you need to do to make the connection is set up a small satellite dish at your home to receive the signal and pass the bandwidth on to your router. The company offers a number of mounting options for rooftops, yards and the exterior of your home.  There’s even a Starlink app for Android and iOS that uses augmented reality to help customers pick the best location and position for their receivers.

How much does it cost?

According to Tech Cabal, Starlink costs a total of $599 (~₦330,000) for a full kit, including a terminal, mounting tripod, and Wi-Fi router, then a $110 (~₦60,500) for preorder and monthly subscription. Its premium service costs about $2,500 (~₦1.375 million) for the full kit and $500 (~₦275,000) monthly.

This price range is however deemed expensive for the average Nigerian, therefore generating speculation that the company might be introducing a different offering for the Nigerian Market.

What are its benefits to Nigerians?

Aside from meeting its general objective which is providing internet coverage to areas, where access has been unreliable or completely unavailable. Starlink is expected to challenge the Nigerian Internet service provider space that is dominated by telcos like MTN and Airtel, as well as individual ISPs such as Spectranet, SMILE and others.

The company also promises to bring high speeds and latency as low as 20 minutes in most locations, enabling video calls, online gaming, streaming, and other high data rate activities that historically have not been possible with satellite internet. Users also have the option to take Starlink with them via the Portability feature or Starlink.