Starlink halts new Nigerian sign-ups

SpaceX's satellite Internet service, Starlink, has temporarily stopped accepting new orders for residential kits in Nigeria, pending a price increase approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Last month, Nigerian subscribers received an email about a price increase, stating that Starlink's standard residential plan with a 1TB fair usage policy would now cost 75,000 Nigerian Naira (US$45.60) per month, up from N38,000 ($23.10), though the price for Starlink kits would remain unchanged.

However, that announcement was not well received, prompting the company to put the price increase on hold while it addressed regulatory concerns. The price increase was meant to have taken effect at the end of October 2024.

The regulatory pitfalls and the country's high inflation rate seem to have led to Elon Musk's company to stop accepting new orders for its residential kits.

According to the Starlink website, it is working closely with the country's regulators to make adjustments.

Starlink has temporarily stopped accepting new orders for its residential kits in Nigeria. (Source: Starlink website)

"We're committed to providing high-speed internet in Nigeria and are working closely with regulators to make adjustments that will improve the customer experience," a Starlink spokesperson said.

"Until these changes are approved, we are placing new Residential orders on hold," the company stated.

Related:Starlink hikes Nigerian subscription prices

Starlink African operations

Even though Nigeria was the first country to have Starlink services, the company has had better fortunes in other countries.

Starlink recently had to halt new sign-ups in some Kenyan counties due to high demand.

The growth in Kenya led to Elon Musk's company launching a rental option in August 2024, allowing Kenyans to rent its kits for 1,950 Kenyan Shillings (US$15) per month.

Kenya is not the only African country where Starlink is thriving: Since its launch in September 2024 in Zimbabwe, Starlink's equipment has also sold out in the country's capital of Harare, as well as other surrounding areas.

Since entering Zimbabwe, the company has made a significant impact on pricing of Internet services in the Southern African nation.

Moreover, the company has been expanding its reach and earlier this month, Niger's ruling military Junta struck a deal with Starlink to expand coverage in the poorly connected country.

As much as Starlink is doing well in some countries, it is still experiencing problems in other nations, such as Cameroon, where authorities in April 2024 banned the import of Starlink satellite Internet kits and seized equipment at the border.

Starlink has only recently made some progress in South Africa, after battling regulatory challenges for some time.

In October 2024, South African Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi announced plans to amend a law mandating that global communications companies like Starlink must have 30% ownership by historically disadvantaged groups to obtain an operating license in the country.

It will be interesting to see whether or not the NCC will fold and grant Starlink its price increase in Nigeria.

Starlink is also active in Burundi, Botswana, Ghana, Benin, Rwanda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Eswatini.