The Gigabit Libraries Network (GLN) recently announced an agreement with the Nigeria National Library to outfit five public libraries as users of SpaceX/ Starlink’s LEO satellite broadband system.

These are the first libraries to have such a connection on the continent.

Working in partnership with the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA) to initiate a set of 5 pilot projects in Abuja and Lagos, the library sites will be part of a wider study on capabilities and potential benefits of this innovative and potentially revolutionary communications capability that can reach almost anywhere on the planet.

“In many African communities, the library is the only place to access free and/or cheap Internet. Getting libraries connected to fast, stable and affordable Internet, can be the only link between young people and opportunities; between learning new skills and making the mark for better employment prospects and between access to information that can debunk rumours and falsehoods.”- Nkem Osuigwe, Human Capacity Development & Training Director, African Library and Information Associations & Institutions(AfLIA).

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Starlink now delivers broadband service in forty-five countries and more nations granting operating permits with Nigeria becoming the first in Africa to see service launched.

Implementation of LEO technology appears to be yielding faster connection speeds with lower latency than traditional geostationary satellite based services, though with outstanding questions of capacity over time as more users participate. “The speed is just amazing in our area! I am excited for my community and especially for the students that need this access for school work!,” says Richelle Montoya, Director, Torreón, NM Library, the world’s first LEO-connected library.

“There are many things to learn about how these new systems can serve towards closing the persistent global digital divide as well as integrate into the wider telecom ecosystem. Being essentially impervious to power and/or internet outages, these space based connectivity systems increase community resilience against extreme weather disaster events,” says Don Means, GLN Director.

Traditional communications infrastructures rely on terrestrial networks of wires and towers extending out from the internet backbone. As that distance increases so do the costs of provision making end user services typically less affordable and therefore less likely to even be built.

“I think connecting libraries as community access hubs for resilience is a good idea, and highly relevant. These communities may not be contributing huge amounts of carbon, but they are the places where it’s growing fastest–and more to the point they’re where people are most suffering the effects.” -Bill McKibben, Climate Activist, Co-founder 350.org.

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LEO systems combined with the myriad services of public or community libraries, together respond to the three primary barriers to adoption which inhibit access for some 3 plus billion people worldwide. Those barriers include availability, affordability and usability according to GLN’s “LEO Libraries” overview.

Starlink hardware with 24 months of service has been donated by the company in support of community access at public libraries.

The discourse, to be hosted by Business Remarks, will feature Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Infrastructure and Tower Companies, Network Operators and other telecom stakeholders at the upcoming third edition of the Telecom Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF).

Tagged: “Starlink, A Threat or Prospect to the Sustainability of Nigeria’s ISPs, Infraco and MNOs”, the event is scheduled to hold in Lagos State.

The event will see the telecom regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) address front-burner issues and enlighten telecom stakeholders on the impact of satellite broadband on the general macroeconomic sustainability of the sector and its players.

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Speaking about the event, the convener of the forum and Managing Editor of Business Remarks, Bukola Olanrewaju stated that as access to internet connectivity becomes an essential part of people’s daily lives, the push for quality internet connection are now in very high demand.  As a result, competition among players have become fiercer.

“Nigeria, Africa’s fastest growing telecommunications market is largely dependent on fibre connectivity.  While broadband penetration in Nigeria sits at 47.4% as of December 2022, the country is still far from attaining its targeted 70% penetration threshold by 2025, in addition to bridging the currently identified 114 access gaps.

“Satellite internet has many advantages in African countries, making it possible to open up rural, isolated or poorly served areas. However, the emergence of Elon Musk’s Starlink in Nigeria has sparked different reactions with many industry observers warning that it will cause a major disruption in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.