Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, has announced a new price hike for its services in Nigeria, effective January 27, 2025.
In an email to its subscribers, Starlink said the new pricing structure will apply immediately to new customers, while existing users will see the changes reflected in their upcoming bills.
“To continue enhancing the Starlink network and provide reliable, high-quality service across Nigeria, we are adjusting our monthly subscription prices,” the email read. “These changes are part of our ongoing commitment to investing in the infrastructure needed to improve your experience with Starlink.”
Under the revised pricing:
- The lowest subscription tier will increase from ₦38,000 to ₦75,000 per month, representing a significant hike.
- The mobile-regional roam unlimited plan will now cost ₦167,000, while the mobile-global roam service has been set at ₦717,000 per month.
This marks the second price increase for Starlink’s services in Nigeria in less than six months. On October 1, 2024, the company raised its standard residential package from ₦38,000 to ₦75,000, an increase of 97.37%, while the cost of its hardware jumped from ₦440,000 to ₦590,000.
The earlier hike faced backlash from Nigerian users, prompting the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to take action. The NCC accused Starlink of failing to seek regulatory approval for the price adjustments and announced it had commenced a pre-enforcement action against the company. Following this, Starlink temporarily suspended the increase on October 25.
The latest price adjustment comes amid ongoing challenges for Nigerian telecom operators, who have also sought tariff increases due to economic pressures but faced stricter regulatory oversight.
Starlink’s decision to raise prices again has drawn mixed reactions from Nigerians, with some citing concerns about affordability, particularly in a challenging economic climate. However, others recognize the service’s role in providing high-speed internet access, especially in remote areas where traditional providers struggle to reach.
The NCC has yet to issue a formal response to this latest development.
