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Key Points
- Starlink resumes satellite internet activations in Nigeria after regulatory approval, targeting high-demand cities like Lagos and Abuja.
- Elon Musk’s SpaceX boosts broadband coverage in Africa’s most populous nation with upgraded satellite network capacity.
- Konga offers nationwide delivery of Starlink kits, expanding access to reliable internet across underserved Nigerian regions.
Starlink, the satellite Internet provider operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX, has officially resumed new customer activations in Nigeria following a regulatory halt last November. The expansion comes after significant upgrades to network capacity, aimed at boosting connectivity in Africa’s most populous nation.
Starlink reactivates Nigerian market post regulatory hold
In November 2024, Starlink suspended new activations of its residential internet kits across Nigeria due to pending approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Prospective customers faced delays as the company awaited regulatory clearance to resume onboarding. Activations — the process enabling users to order, receive, and install Starlink’s satellite hardware — were temporarily unavailable, leaving demand unmet.
Now, after infrastructure enhancements, Starlink has expanded bandwidth capacity, particularly targeting high-demand urban centers like Lagos, Abuja, and other major cities. Nigeria’s third-largest internet service provider called this move “a significant stride towards bridging the digital divide and revolutionizing connectivity across the nation.”
Boosting digital inclusion with expanded satellite internet
The upgraded infrastructure promises faster internet speeds and improved network stability, especially in underserved and previously congested regions. This expansion is critical as Nigeria faces persistent broadband challenges, where traditional fiber and mobile networks struggle to meet rising demands driven by remote work, online education, and digital services.
Konga, Starlink’s largest authorized retail partner in Nigeria, welcomed the resumption enthusiastically. The e-commerce giant announced free nationwide delivery of Starlink kits and availability through multiple retail outlets across cities including Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Warri, Kano, and Enugu, ensuring easier customer access. “The activation resumption is a game-changer for Nigerians waiting to access reliable satellite internet,” Konga stated.
Starlink accelerates African expansion amid growing demand
Starlink’s renewed presence in Nigeria is part of Elon Musk’s broader strategy to expand affordable, low-latency satellite internet across Africa. The company recently secured market entry in Lesotho and Somalia and gained regulatory approval to operate in the Democratic Republic of Congo despite earlier bans due to security concerns.
Moreover, SpaceX is collaborating with Airtel Africa to roll out Starlink’s services targeting rural connectivity gaps continent-wide. As Elon Musk maintains his position as the world’s richest individual, with a net worth of $367 billion (according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index), his commitment to global digital inclusion through Starlink remains a central focus.
