Nigerians are increasingly adopting Starlink, a satellite internet service provided by SpaceX. Over the past four months, Space X has managed to attract 500,000 new users in Nigeria, indicating a growing interest in the technology. The CEO of Space, in an interview with Legit.ng, stated that Nigerians are now shifting away from other traditional networks and opting to invest in Starlink kits.
The appeal of Starlink lies in its promise of reliable and high-speed internet connectivity, especially in areas with limited infrastructure. This has led to a surge in demand for Starlink kits among Nigerians who are looking for better internet access. The CEO of Space X, Elon Musk, has expressed his belief that the profits generated from Starlink will be instrumental in funding ambitious projects, including the colonization of Mars.
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To facilitate the sale of Starlink kits in Nigeria, Konga has emerged as the exclusive shop-in-shop commerce partner for Starlink. The company responsible for marketing the product has recently announced a significant price reduction. On April 9, 2023, the cost of the Starlink kit on Konga’s platform was lowered to N440,000, representing a 50% reduction from the previous price. However, the monthly subscription fee for the internet service remains unchanged at N38,000 per month. It is worth noting that just a month prior, the kit was being sold for N378,000, indicating a substantial price drop.
Prior to Konga, Jumia served as SpaceX’s partner for online sales of Starlink products in Nigeria. In 2023, Jumia had also announced a price reduction for the Starlink kit. The cost of the kit was reduced by approximately 21% from N378,000 to N299,000. This move aimed to make the technology more accessible to a larger segment of the Nigerian population.
The increasing popularity of Starlink is evident from the statistics provided by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). In 2023, the NCC reported that the number of Starlink users in Nigeria had reached an impressive 159 million. This highlights the significant impact and adoption of the satellite internet service in the country.
Furthermore, in an effort to support customers who had recently purchased the Starlink kit before the price reduction, the company had promised partial refunds for those who had made purchases within the 30 days preceding the price drop.
Overall, the reduction in the cost of Starlink kits through Konga and Jumia, along with the increasing number of users in Nigeria, demonstrates the growing demand for reliable and high-speed internet connectivity in the country. As Starlink continues to expand its coverage and improve its services, it is expected to play a crucial role in bridging the digital divide and transforming communication in Nigeria.
