Two months after increasing its monthly subscription packages for users in Nigeria by 100%, satellite internet connectivity provider, Starlink has not entirely effected the new price regime that it announced in January.
Recall that in an email sent to subscribers in January, Starlink increased the price of its Standard (Residential) package, which previously cost N38,000 to N75,0000. The company also increased the price of its hardware router from N440,000 to N590,000 on its website. The increase represents a seventy-four per cent raise from the N4400,000 that it was initially sold.
The email indicated that the new price regime would take effect from January 27, 2025, for old subscribers.
For new customers, the price increase is effective immediately. “These changes reflect our commitment to investing in the infrastructure needed to support and improve your experience with Starlink”, the email said.
Despite the email, the price of the Standard (Residential) package on its website- as of the time of publishing- is still N38,000. On the contrary, the company is selling its hardware router at the new price of N590,000.
Also, the payment schedule email sent to users in February and March indicates that they were required to pay the old fee of N38,000.
The reason for the price freeze is unclear. What is clear is that when Starlink first announced a price update in October 2024, the company attributed the increase to the continuous depreciation of the naira against the dollar. At this time, the Naira exchanged at N1,700 to $1.
The Naira has since appreciated to N1,493- as of the end of trading day, March 4, 2025.
When Starlink officially announced its presence in Nigeria in January 2023, the company, which initially quoted its prices in dollars at $600 for the hardware and $43 for the standard residential monthly subscription, changed to naira upon its official announcement. By today’s exchange rate, $43 would equal N64,300.
Hence, N38,000 is still a relatively discounted price.
Starlink’s shaky price regime in Nigeria
As of February 2024, Starllink’s router was sold for N378,000. An increment regime implemented in early March saw a price jump to N800,000. This was evidently in response to the rapidly declining value of the naira to as high as N1900/$1.
When the naira appreciated from record lows close to N2,000/$ to N1230.61/$ on the official window in April, the company slashed the hardware price to N440,000. That was not its first slash. Recall that the company announced a price reduction for its hardware in Nigeria in October 2023 by 21% from ₦378,000 to ₦299,000.
Following the announcement of the price increase in October, the Nigerian telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in a statement through its Director of Public Affairs, Dr Reuben Muoka suggested that Starlink acted without an. approval:
“The decision by Starlink to unilaterally review their subscription packages upwards did not receive the approval of the Nigerian Communications Commission. The action of the company is in contravention of Sections 108 and 111 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and Starlink’s License Conditions regarding tariffs. The Commission commenced pre-enforcement action on the licensee on the 3rd of October, 2024”, the statement said.
In reaction, Starlink suspended the planned price hike owing to a “lack of regulatory approval from the NCC”.
“Last month, we increased the monthly service price for Starlink in Nigeria to account for inflation, helping us maintain operations and continue delivering reliable service. Today, we are temporarily suspending this price increase as we navigate regulatory challenges,” the statement reads.
The company also informed customers already been charged the new price and that they would be refunded through a one-time credit activation. “If you’ve already been charged at the higher rate, a one-time credit will be applied to your account to cover the difference.”
It also warned of the risk of terminating services in Nigeria if the impasse persists: “Without these approvals, our ability to continue delivery service is at risk”, the company said.
It is unclear if the price appreciation is replicated across other markets or if it is a decision that uniquely affects Nigeria.
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