We’ve seen high-speed fiber optic networks running at 500Mbps, and scary 5G download speeds but not a near orbit satellite internet service branded by the much controversial tech billionaire Elon Musk as Starlink in Nigeria.
You might be forgiven if you’ve never heard of it, but what matters most is that we have mini satellite constellations patrolling the night sky.
As stated by SpaceX on the 30th of January 2023 “Starlink is now available in Nigeria-the first African country to receive the service!”
We’ve lived in the dark for too long because of our underwhelming mobile networks and it’s time to step into the light of fast internet browsing.
This article will bring you up to speed with everything you need to know about Elon Musk’s Starlink in Nigeria including the speed, performance, and how to get your very own set.
What Is Starlink?
Starlink is a satellite internet service run by SpaceX which uses low Earth orbit(LEO) satellites to deliver broadband internet access to users in different parts of the world. It’s a constellation of satellites that is 550km from the Earth so it can provide faster Internet speed with low latency.
Starlink is an offshoot of SpaceX designed to bring fast-speed broadband Internet connectivity to the remote and rural parts of the world with little or no internet access.
Other satellite cable networks use a geostationary satellite that orbits the Earth at 35,786km but with high latency because of the time taken for signals to bounce off the satellite and reach consumers.
As of the time of writing, SpaceX has launched more than 3000 satellites into space using the SpaceX Falcon9 rocket. Elon Musk has even confirmed that the figure is bound to go up in the coming years to as many as 42000 Starlink satellites navigating the Earth.
As of March 3rd, 2023, 51 more Starlink satellites were launched from California to hit the goal of covering the entire globe.
Shooting more Starlink satellites into space means more coverage and faster Internet access for Starlink subscribers. Though astronomers might not agree with that because they believe that the mini Starlink ships are polluting the night sky with light when you look through the eye of a telescope.
SpaceX has put in some constrictions but some sects of the science community are still not satisfied.
How Does Starlink Work?
Starlink works pretty much like your satellite cable network for e.g DSTV except that it uses a constellation of near-orbiting satellites to provide internet access.
To access Starlink in Nigeria, you will need a ground-based terminal, which is a dish that transmits signals to the nearest orbiting satellite which in turn sends back signals through radio waves that grant internet access to your Wifi router. It’s a back-and-forth mechanism that happens in a matter of seconds.
The Starlink kit consists of a Starlink dish, a Wifi router, a cable, and a base to mount the dish. The Starlink dish is self-orienting and can easily lock on to the Starlink network once it has a clear view of the sky with no obstructions like trees or buildings.
You can easily get your Starlink network up and running in about 30 minutes as you don’t need a technical professional to set it up. It has a mobile app for Android and IOS devices that uses augmented reality to select the perfect spot for your dish to get the maximum connection.
Once your Starlink kit arrives you will have to download the app and follow the instructions to successfully mount and install your kit in no time. If for any reason you couldn’t receive any network or experience poor network coverage you can contact Starlink’s support page or find a quick solution from their FAQ page.
Below-par speeds can be attributed to the dish not having a clear view of the sky or your area not having sufficient coverage in which case you will have to wait for SpaceX to ramp up the number of satellites in Space.
How Much Does Starlink Cost In Nigeria?
Starlink for all its worth is quite expensive compared to mobile network providers like Airtel, MTN, and 9Mobile. But if you value speed, and convenience and you are willing to break the bank for it, then this might be good for you.
For a headstart, you will have to sign up to their website and check if it’s available in your area through the map section on the company’s website. If you were given a green light you can proceed to place your order.
To purchase the Starlink kit in Nigeria, you will have to make a down payment (pre-order) of $99. 99(₦45,995) and an additional $499(₦229,540) to complete the payment with a $110(₦50,600) monthly subscription. Which is the same as $599(₦275,540) for the Starlink equipment and a monthly fee pegged at $110(₦50,600).
Do not be deceived by the price you found on the Starlink website, it is just a conversion based on the CBN bank rate and you still won’t be able to pay with your Nigeria debit cards and the payment will be charged based on USD.
Additionally, there are other pricing plans like Starlink Premium which costs $2500(₦1,150,000) for the Starlink kit and a $500(₦230,000) monthly subscription fee. This plan is geared towards businesses while the latter is for residential users, which justifies the glaring price cap.
Starlink Premium comes with a larger pizza box dish which has faster browsing and download speeds and serves a certain number of persons without getting overloaded.
Then, a Starlink R.V. plans costs $135(₦62,100) per month and if you place an order you would receive your equipment speedily. But you may get a slower connection if you are surrounded by residential Starlink subscribers.
There are still other plans like Starlink Maritime and Aviation for ships and airplanes respectively. One bottleneck that you may encounter while making your purchase is that you must have a dollar card or a foreign account.
Digital entrepreneurs who earn in dollars will smile at this while others will have to create and fund a virtual dollar card like Payday or Barter.
Note, we used the standard Naira to dollar rate(1USD = ₦460) so the amount you’re paying will vary based on your dollar card rates.
It will probably take about a few days or at least a week to get your shipment from DHL or any other means of shipment you choose.
How Fast Is Starlink Internet In Nigeria?
As per the Starlink website “users can expect to see data speeds vary from 50 to 150 megabytes per second and latency from 20 to 40 milliseconds in most locations over the next several months.”
Then Elon Musk later announced in February 2021 that speeds could move up to 300mbps and latency will drop down to 20ms. This is more or less of a mixed baggage considering the mixed reviews from users.
A Starlink user in Nigeria, Gbadego tweeted that he had speeds as high as 240Mbps at Abeokuta while Fisayo Fosudo a tech Youtuber reported having speeds between 50-200Mbps and above 200Mbps a few times.
That’s a far cry from the mobile networks used in Nigeria which puts up meager speeds; Airtel runs at 22.42Mbps, MTN at 21.71Mbps, Glo at 8.70Mbps, and 9Mobile at 8.32Mbps(ookla).
Although fiber optic networks may say differently, for instance, Fibre one can deliver speeds up to 500Mbps for a monthly fee pegged at $220. Fibre internet practically beats Starlink for speed, cost, and reliability, though it’s not available on every part of the planet.
It is worth noting that, download and upload speeds will vary in different locations depending on the network coverage you have in your area.
Also, Starlink placed a safety net for heavy users who would use more than 1TB monthly, in which they will experience slower speeds for the remainder of the month. Nevertheless, they would still have access to unlimited data.
Does Starlink Work In Bad Weather Conditions?
That’s a definite yes, as the Starlink dish has a built-in heater that will help keep it dry during rain storms.
Though there FAQ section says that, “Heavy rain or wind can also affect your satellite internet connection, potentially leading to slower speeds or a rare outage,”
It would be best to mount the dish on a convenient spot like rooftops or a high elevation to prevent rain splash and obstructions.
Where Is Starlink Available?
As of the time of writing, the company announced that it has covered all 7 continents and has reached 48 countries in the world including Nigeria.
The satellite internet service was created to reach out to underserved areas(rural) or parts of the planet with poor internet connection.
You can check if the Starlink network is in your area by going to their website > map > enter your location.
Pros And Cons Of Starlink
Let’s look at how Starlink stacks up in terms of the pros and cons so you can decide if this service is really for you.
Pros of Starlink in Nigeria
- Unlimited data every month
- It is easy to install.
- Low latency
- It favors remote and rural areas
Cons of StarLink in Nigeria
- It is expensive.
- Nigerian debit Cards Cannot be used to make payment
- It is not portable
- There may be delays in your order
- Slower speed due to congestion
- Speed Might become reduced when connected to numerous devices
- Will need a new setup mechanism if you leave your current residential area
- Cloudy Days (Rainy) Make Starlink’s internet speed slow
- Uploading on StarLink is very slow compared to Nigerian internet providers
- Can not work without electricity (Biggest Problem, especially here in Nigeria without stable or no electricity)
The Future Of Starlink in Nigeria
The company made a bold statement, that download speeds could move on to 1Gbps and even spike up to 10Gbps in the coming years as SpaceX launches more satellites enough to cover the Earth.
Starlink holds a lot of promises on a silver platter and it remains to be seen if they would hit such targets. Though Starlink is faster than competitor satellite internet providers like HughesNet and Viasat it still has a long way off from beating ground-based fiber internet that could hit 1Gbps speed.
The satellite speeds are still anywhere around 150Mbps because of long-distance signals which have to travel back and forth from the dish to the Starlink satellite. It could take some time before Starlink would be able to stand toe to toe with the high-speed Fibre internet.
If there is anything we’ve learned from Musk-driven companies like Tesla and SpaceX, they go to great lengths to beat the odds and establish themselves as a beam of light for others to follow.
Final Words on StarLink
Starlink is finally available in Nigeria. The minister of communication and digital economy Isa Pantami gleefully expressed himself.
“We have made it again. @SpaceX thank you for hosting me in your headquarters, the United States in December 2022 to complete the logistics for the deployment,”
This is an expensive internet service but if you have the means then it will be a good investment compared to the poor mobile network condition in the country.
So let’s close our eyes and see where the wind takes us from here. If you are interested in learning more about Starlink and how it can benefit you, keep an eye out for updates as the service continues to expand in Nigeria.
About the Author
Felix is a seasoned tech content writer who helps tech businesses break into new markets and reach a wider audience with high-quality writing solutions that generate leads and converts.
I am a freelance writer for hire and you can check out my writing portfolio and connect with me via my social media handles: LinkedIn and Twitter.
