The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed that Starlink became the third-largest internet service provider by subscriber count in the fourth quarter of 2023, less than a year after its January 2023 launch in the country.
According to the NCC, the Elon Musk-led company recorded an aggregate of 23,897 active subscribed customers by the end of 2023. This represents a 113 percent increase from the 11,207 customers recorded at the end of the third quarter of 2023.
While the service continues to record impressive success in Nigerian markets, it is still struggling to establish a presence in several African countries. A month ago, the government of Zimbabwe ordered the company to shut down its services in the country. In a mail sent to its users, the company stated it had been ordered to shut down its services by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ).
“You are currently using Starlink in an unauthorized territory. As a result, Starlink has been directed by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) to disable your service. As described in your Terms of Service, Starlink does not guarantee when or where its Mobile or Mobile Priority Services Plans will be available. Use of such services is dependent on many factors, including obtaining or maintaining the necessary regulatory approvals which are subject to change,” the mail read in part.
The company has also experienced difficulties in South Africa, where the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), the country’s telecoms regulator, has ordered IT Lec, the sole importer of Starlink kits, to cease importation.
Although SpaceX, makers of Starlink, have yet to secure an operational license, IT Lec found a workaround for its customers. However, the ISP has been warned to abandon this workaround in a strongly worded notice by ICASA.
Related story: Ghana eases restrictions on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet.
In Botswana, the importation, use, and sale of Starlink kits and services were officially prohibited by the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA). The prohibition also came with a warning of legal repercussions for those who defied the ban.
The company also faced regulatory squabbles in Ghana, although Ghanaian authorities have assured the public that they would grant the internet company a license once it fulfills all regulatory requirements.
However, its present challenges in Africa are balanced out by its astounding success in Southeast Asia, with countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Starlink boasts a constellation of nearly 6,000 satellites, with over 5,200 operational, providing internet access to 2.7 million subscribers.
