CEM REPORT | Nigerian Communication Commission, (NCC), has license Starlink to provide Internet Service) in the country.
Starlink, owned by world richest billion Elon Musk’s, operated by SpaceX, provides high-speed, low-latency broadband internet across the globe via satellite.
This was disclosed via a tweet on the official twitter handle of Musk, which has also been confirmed by the NCC according to Nairametrics.
This licensing followed a visit to Nigeria by the company’s team in May last year.
“The company received two licenses, which include the International Gateway license and Internet Service Provider (ISP) license, and will be trading as Starlink Internet Services Nigeria Ltd. According to NCC, the International Gateway license has a 10-year tenure while the ISP license is to last for five years. Both licenses take effect from May 2022 and may be renewed after the expiration.” NCC said
Starlink brings much-needed competition to Nigerian telecom operators such as MTN and Airtel, who have had to compete against each other without improving their internet quality.
According to CNBC, Starlink is SpaceX’s network of satellites in low Earth orbit, designed to deliver high-speed internet anywhere on the globe. Through thousands of satellites, SpaceX is building a system to deliver faster connectivity across a wider coverage area than traditional broadband satellites.
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Starlink therefore enables video calls, online gaming, streaming, and other high data rate activities that historically have not been possible with satellite internet.
Starlink also provides users the option to take Starlink with them via the Portability feature or Starlink.
SpaceX’s presentation, made during a call with the Federal Communications Commission on May 19, noted that the Starlink service is active in 48 U.S. states. The satellite network is available in 36 countries so far. The number of countries now comes to 38 with the addition of Morocco and Mozambique according to Musk tweet. The company is aiming to expand service to most of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East next year.
For its premium services, it’s cost is considered expensive for the Nigerian market. At $110 (~₦60,500) for preorder — also its monthly price — and $599 (~₦330,000) for a full kit, including a terminal, mounting tripod, and Wi-Fi router, Starlink’s price is pricey for the average Nigerian — and Mozambique user. Its premium service costs about $2,500 (~₦1.375 million) for the full kit and $500 (~₦275,000) monthly.
Recall that in May last year, Starlink’s Market Access Director for Africa, Ryan Goodnight and SpaceX consultant, Levin Born paid a visit to the NCC where they expressed interest to obtain a license to operate satellite internet in the country, providing an overview of its plans, expectations, licensing requests, and deployment phases.
