The new pricing immediately affects new customers, while existing subscribers will begin paying the revised rates from May 30, 2025.
Starlink’s latest price revision aligns with the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) January 2025 approval of a 50% tariff increase for telecom operators, the first such adjustment in over a decade. The NCC’s decision came amid growing pressure on the telecom sector, driven by naira devaluation, rising inflation, and steep operational costs.
This isn’t the first time Starlink has attempted to raise its prices in Nigeria. In October 2024**, the company proposed increasing its monthly subscription to NGN 75,000 (USD 46.78), a move that was swiftly met with regulatory resistance. The NCC, through its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, criticised the hike as unilateral and violating sectoral guidelines. The backlash forced Starlink to suspend the planned price adjustment.
With the NCC’s official backing for broader telecom tariff increases, Starlink appears to be acting within a more acceptable regulatory framework.
The company maintains that customers can cancel anytime, stating in its email: “If you do not wish to continue service, you can cancel at any time on your account page. If you return your Starlink within 30 days of purchase, we’ll refund your full hardware and service costs. If you return hardware purchased within the last year, we’ll refund 50% of the hardware cost.’
Meanwhile, Starlink’s service capacity in Nigeria continues to evolve. Two major southern cities, Port Harcourt and Benin City, have now been freed up for new Residential Plan activations, thanks to a newly activated ground station at Okun Aja, Lagos State. The station features 20 antennas installed, with room for 36 more, assuming regular spacing, and is located adjacent to the new Medallion Data Centre facility. Following a recent surge in internet exchange point (IXP) capacity – from 200G to 600G – this development appears to be live, indicating improved Starlink throughput in the region. New customers in these cities can now sign up and begin using the service without joining a waitlist.
Starlink’s service remains at full capacity in other parts of Nigeria and several other African countries. New users outside newly opened areas can still deposit to join the waitlist and will be notified once additional capacity becomes available. However, Starlink has not confirmed a timeline. “Our teams are working as quickly as possible to add more capacity to the constellation so we can continue to expand coverage for more customers worldwide,” the company stated.
Starlink cited Nigeria’s inflation and currency instability as key reasons for the new pricing structure. As the company ties its price directly to macroeconomic conditions, a recovery in the naira’s value could lead to more affordable pricing in the future.
Until then, the elevated cost may continue to limit Starlink’s accessibility to higher-income earners in urban areas, even as the service continues to outperform traditional broadband offerings in speed and coverage.
No comments:
Post a Comment