Breaking: Starlink subscription price in Nigeria doubles to ₦75,000

Nigerian customers of Starlink, the satellite internet service from SpaceX, are facing a significant price hike. The monthly subscription for the standard residential plan has doubled, now costing ₦75,000, up from ₦38,000. This increase is due to rising inflation in the country, according to an email sent by Starlink to its customers.

For customers who use Starlink’s local roaming service, the price jump is even steeper. Local roaming, which allows users to access the service outside their homes or offices within Nigeria, will now cost ₦167,000 per month, a sharp rise from the previous ₦49,000. Those who need international roaming will now pay ₦717,000 per month.

The new pricing will take effect from October 31st for existing customers, while new subscribers will pay the updated rates immediately. However, the cost of Starlink kits remains unchanged at ₦440,000.

No Rental Option for Nigerian Customers

Unlike in Kenya, where Starlink offers more flexible payment options, including a rental plan for those who can’t afford to buy the kit outright, Nigerian customers do not have this option. Additionally, there’s no cheaper plan for those who don’t need much data. In Kenya, for example, users can opt for a more affordable 50GB plan at a much lower price.

In Kenya, Starlink also offers a budget-friendly “Mini” kit for KES 27,000, with speeds up to 100 Mbps, while the standard kit offers speeds of 200 Mbps. The Mini plan’s monthly subscription is KES 4,000, compared to the KES 6,500 standard plan.

These incentives seem to be Starlink’s response to stiff competition from local internet providers like Safaricom and Jamii Telecommunications, which have been upgrading their services to meet customer demands for better speeds and affordable prices.

For now, Nigerian customers don’t have access to these more affordable options, leaving them with significantly higher costs than their counterparts in other African countries.