What Musk’s Starlink Internet Satellites Could Do For Nigeria’s Connectivity

Companies like Google have revealed their vision of taking every body online through moonshot projects like project loon. Which is a balloon based network operating in the stratosphere to provide about 1Mbit/sec of internet connectivity for rural communities. Amazon is also following suite, announcing it’s Project Kuiper in 2019 stating that Project Kuiper is “a long-term initiative to launch a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world.”

Leading the way already is Starlink, a project consisting of constellation of satellites in low-earth orbit providing internet access to underserved communities. Through SpaceX, it’s parent company, the project has already launched 1400 satellites into space and  aims to achieve total coverage of the African region by 2022 with Nigeria being the first country to enjoy it’s services. The company could provide up to 50 Megabit per second to 150Mb/s in rural areas of the country and has already taken steps to ensure it’s dominance in satellite internet sector in Africa’s most populated country. The company’s director for Africa was in talks with the Nigerian Communications Commission for approval for satellite overage in the region.

This could mean good and bad news for the country as the country currently faces threats such as banditry and terrorism. Technologies like this could be leveraged to carry out their operations. On the other hand, this means people can get internet access in places where current ISP can not reach for $99 per month after hardware components have been purchased for $499.