Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, on 2 February 2023, took to Twitter to officially welcome the deployment of Starlink, a satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, to the West African country.

President Buhari in his tweet also pointed out that Nigeria will go down in the history of Africa as the first and only (at the time of this publication) to ‘enjoy this rollout.’ However, as expected, the president’s tweet was met with a lot of reaction that voiced concerns about this peculiar internet service and the issues encircling broadband penetration in Nigeria.

Here are a few reactions to President Buhari's Tweet

So, what exactly is Starlink, and why should it matter so much for the president of the world’s most prominent Black population and Africa’s largest economy to tweet about it? In this piece, we have highlighted some facts about Starlink and key details one needs to know as the internet service providers mark their footprint in Nigeria.

What is Starlink?

Starlink is an internet service provider operated by SpaceX, founded in 2002 by Elon Musk. SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches rockets and spacecraft into space. The company officially launched the Starlink Satellites in 2019 and as recent as September 2022, SpaceX has launched more than 3,000 satellites into low-Earth orbit (LEO).  

What’s The Cost?

According to SpaceX, Starlink will primarily focus on delivering high-speed, low-latency broadband internet services to remote and rural locations globally. Service starts at $110 per month with a one-time hardware cost of $599. Converting this to the Nigerian Naira (₦), where $1 estimates at ₦460, $110 per month would estimate at ₦50,600 with a one-time hardware cost of ₦275,540.

However, according to an official statement from SpaceX, the shipping times are currently estimated to be one to two weeks after order for ₦19,260/month for internet service and ₦274,098 for hardware.

What’s The Internet Speed and Coverage?

According to SpaceX, Starlink Internet covers all areas in Nigeria with an internet speed of 50-200 Mbps. The company also disclosed that it is offering a discount 30-day service, with no commitment to Nigerians who order Starlink.

50-200 Mbps will be a deal-breaker for Nigerians who have, for the longest, suffered from poor internet services. According to the President’s tweet, with Startlink, Nigeria would attain 100% internet penetration. But the question remains: How likely are Nigerians to order this Elon Musk product?

How Does it Work?

Starlink works with the help of the Starlink kit which includes: a Starlink satellite dish, WiFi router/power supply, cables and base. The Starlink base is primarily designed for ground-level installation, or to also support a quick-start setup for consumers to test their internet connection. However, you may want to purchase a permanent mount for the best installation. 

Unlike other internet satellite service providers, the Starlink dish is self-orienting and connects quickly as long as it has a clear view of the sky. Once one set up the hardware, one can automatically connect to the Starlink network and use the Starlink app to manage their internet service.

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What Problem Does Starlink Solves for Nigerians?

Improve the Flow of Information

One of the major problems Starlink solves for Nigerians is the increase in access to information and quality education. Globally, many people rely on the internet to stay updated with happenings and trends in their locality and the lack of internet or poor internet connection which affects mostly rural communities in Nigeria, reduces the free flow of vital information. 

With Starlink’s internet service penetrating these areas, this deficit would become a thing of the past. But the question again remains: How many people living in rural areas in Nigeria can afford this service?

Improved Healthcare Services

When medical practitioners access rural areas, one of the problems they face emanates from the lack of good internet services. With Starlink internet penetration, access to healthcare services will greatly increase in rural areas. Also, now that technology has been infused with health services, the healthtech space will experience a great turnaround in real-time reporting of emergency services and responses.

Environmental monitoring and Disaster Response

With high internet service, environmental monitoring and disaster response can also be improved and we can only expect that with Starlink, Nigeria’s environmental monitoring and disaster response will be improved - especially when the places affected are rural communities.

Improved Financial Services

Nigeria is home to a number of fintech unicorns and globally recognised traditional banks. However, one recurring issue that has plagued the country, especially, its traditional banks, is poor internet services. With Starlink measuring at 50-200 Mbps, Nigerians can expect smoother financial services as the rollout continues.