Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet provider, has doubled its subscription prices in Nigeria, stating the country’s high inflation as the main reason for the increase.
The price change impacts all customers, with those using Starlink for roaming facing the highest price jump.
In an email to customers, Starlink announced the changes, stating, “Due to excessive levels of inflation, the Starlink monthly service price will increase.” Starting October 31st, existing customers will pay the new rates, while new subscribers are immediately subject to the revised prices.
The standard residential plan, which comes with a 1 TB fair usage policy, will now cost ₦75,000 ($48) per month, up from ₦38,000 ($24). Local roaming, allowing customers to use their kits beyond their homes or offices within Nigeria, will rise to ₦167,000, a significant jump from ₦49,000. International roaming customers are facing an even bigger hit, with prices increasing to ₦717,000 per month.
Despite these subscription price hikes, the cost of the Starlink kit in Nigeria remains unchanged at ₦440,000.
However, unlike in Kenya, Nigerian customers have no access to alternative pricing options, such as the more affordable Starlink Mini kit or rental plans. In Kenya, Starlink offers a Mini kit for KES 27,000 ($210), which provides up to 100 Mbps and has a lower monthly subscription fee of KES 4,000 ($31), compared to the standard KES 6,500 ($48) for faster speeds.
The absence of these incentives in Nigeria has raised concerns among customers, particularly given the substantial price hikes.
In Kenya, competition from local internet providers such as Safaricom has led Starlink to introduce more affordable options to retain market share. Safaricom recently responded to pressure from customers by upgrading its internet speeds to fend off complaints about high prices and slow service.
For now, Nigerian customers will have to absorb the higher costs without the competitive pricing options available in other markets like Kenya.
