It’s been quite clear over the last few months that satellite internet service provider Starlink intends to invest heavily in the African market as the company has made its way into various countries across the continent. Kenya has definitely been one of the biggest beneficiaries of this move as consumers can now acquire or even rent Starlink gear and pay for subscriptions for fees as low as KES 1,500 per month.
However, it seems like Starlink is not giving these benefits to every African market as the firm announced a substantial hike of monthly fees in Nigeria. Those already subscribed to Starlink’s services will now have to pay as much as double the previous cost.
The standard service subscriptions will now increase from NGN 38,000 (about KES 2,900) to NGN 75,000 (about KES 5,800) monthly. The mobile regional plan allowing customers to use Starlink kits remotely within Nigeria has spiked from NGN 49,000 (about KES 3,800) to NGN 167,000 (about KES 12,900) per month. The kits’ price has also risen by 34% from NGN 440,000 (about KES 34,000) to NGN 590,000 (about KES 46,000).
This will be a huge blow to customers who had already acquired and moved to Starlink from their local ISPs in hopes of escaping the huge internet costs that are experienced across the continent.
Starlink announced this huge spike will take effect from 31st October, a move that has sparked huge debate among Nigerians about the accessibility and affordability of high-speed internet in the country.
In countries like Kenya, the situation is currently very different as Starlink has clearly shaken up the internet service market with its favourable prices for both the kits and monthly subscription. This has even been felt by the market’s biggest players like Safaricom which has dominated telecommunications for years now. However, Kenyan customers will have to hope that the situation in Nigeria doesn’t happen in the country as well. One can only hope.
READ: Breaking! Cheaper Starlink Mini Now Available in Kenya
