Starlink, the satellite-based broadband service from Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has become Nigeria’s second-largest internet service provider (ISP) by subscriber count.
According to the latest data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for Q4 2024, Starlink now has 65,564 active subscribers, overtaking FiberOne, which recorded 33,010 subscribers.
Since it entered the Nigerian market in early 2023, Starlink has been growing fast, offering high-speed satellite-based broadband to users in both urban and underserved rural areas.
Unlike traditional ISPs reliant on fibre optics and wireless networks, Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellite technology provides nationwide coverage, including remote locations where other providers struggle with connectivity issues.
Even with its premium pricing, Starlink’s user base more than doubled within a year, increasing from 23,897 subscribers in 2023 to 65,564 by the end of 2024.
This surge points to the level of demand for high-speed, reliable connectivity, particularly in areas underserved by traditional ISPs.
Starlink offers speeds of up to 250 Mbps, far outpacing the offerings of most local ISPs that rely on fibre optics and wireless networks.
Spectranet, which operates on fibre and terrestrial wireless networks, is Nigeria’s largest ISP with 105,441 subscribers, despite losing 8,428 users over the past year.
Its subscriber base declined from 113,869 at the end of 2023 to 105,441 in Q3 2024, with no further changes in Q4.
Unlike Starlink’s satellite-based model, Spectranet and other traditional ISPs must pay right-of-way fees, tower installations, and power infrastructure costs, making expansion slower and more expensive.
Other ISPs in Nigeria include Tizeti Networks, with 18,881 subscribers; ipNX Nigeria, serving 16,166 subscribers; and VDT Communications, catering to 6,307 subscribers.
Starlink’s success comes as consumer complaints about the poor internet quality provided by mobile network operators and ISPs are on the high side.
Unlike its competitors, Starlink expands its satellite network globally, improving speeds, reducing latency, and enhancing service reliability. As of February 2025, SpaceX had launched 8,039 Starlink satellites, with 7,082 still in orbit and 7,049 fully operational.
“As far as them (Starlink) being the second-largest ISP now, it makes sense,” said Ladi Okuneye, CEO of UniCloud, an ISP. “Satellite technology’s ubiquitous nature means you can connect a customer today in Ikoyi and another in Ikot Ekpene without being restricted by the geographical limitations of fibre or terrestrial wireless solutions.”
While MTN Nigeria is still at the top in the broadband space, the emergence of Starlink as the second-largest ISP shows a change in consumer preference, particularly for users seeking fast and reliable internet access without the infrastructure limitations of terrestrial networks.
In December 2024, Starlink announced a steep price hike, doubling its monthly subscription fee from ₦38,000 to ₦75,000 for new customers. Existing users were expected to transition to the new pricing by January 27, 2025. However, due to surging demand, Starlink put the tariff adjustment on hold.
This wasn’t the first time Starlink faced pricing challenges in Nigeria. In October 2024, the NCC blocked a previous attempt to raise tariffs, saying the company had not followed the proper regulatory procedures.
The NCC later approved the hike on February 4, 2025, allowing telecom operators to adjust their prices. However, while MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, and Smile Communications have increased their prices, Starlink has yet to implement the increase.
Despite its growth, Starlink still faces limitations. Currently, subscribers can only use the service in a fixed location, which means mobile users cannot stay connected on the move. In 2024, Starlink began rolling out satellite-to-phone connectivity to eliminate mobile dead zones, but this service has not yet reached Africa.
The adoption of Starlink accentuates a growing demand for premium, high-speed internet services in Nigeria. While traditional ISPs continue to invest in expanding their fibre infrastructure, Starlink’s satellite model offers a flexible alternative, particularly in regions where fibre rollout is slow or economically unfeasible.
However, affordability is still a critical challenge—Starlink’s service, priced at over ₦400,000 for the hardware and a monthly subscription fee that could rise to ₦75,000, is way higher than traditional ISPs. This has limited its adoption to high-income users, businesses, and remote areas where alternatives are scarce.
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