Starlink Halts New Orders in Nigeria Amid Regulatory Scrutiny and Overwhelming Demand
November 20, 2024On November 20, 2024, Starlink confirmed the suspension of new orders for its residential kits in Nigeria, which include essential equipment like a satellite dish and router.
This decision comes amid pending regulatory approvals, which have prompted the company to halt further sign-ups.
Just two weeks before this suspension, Starlink had paused new sign-ups in several African cities due to overwhelming demand, a move acknowledged by Elon Musk on X.
Despite these challenges, Starlink has rapidly established itself in Nigeria, becoming the third-largest internet service provider with over 23,000 subscribers by the end of 2023.
Starlink has stated that it is working closely with Nigerian regulators to enhance customer experience and will inform customers when new orders can resume.
Elon Musk has emphasized that Starlink is focused on increasing internet capacity in densely populated urban areas of Africa while also maintaining significant service in less populated regions.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) intervened recently, citing violations of the Nigerian Communications Act of 2003 as the reason for their scrutiny, particularly regarding a proposed price hike.
Starlink attempted to raise its monthly subscription fees by 97% in October 2024, increasing the cost from N38,000 to N75,000, but reversed this decision following NCC intervention.
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Source
Punch Newspapers • Nov 20, 2024
Starlink halts residential kit orders in Nigeria over regulatory hurdles