The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently made a surprising change regarding its stance on Starlink’s price increase. Earlier, the NCC had expressed surprise over Starlink’s announcement of new subscription rates in Nigeria, claiming that the company had not received regulatory approval for the price adjustment. It was noted that while Starlink had filed a request for a price review, the Commission had yet to issue a decision on the matter. However, they later admitted that this statement was a mistake. In a follow-up message, as reported by techcabal the NCC asked media outlets to take down the earlier claim.
“Kindly note this press statement was issued in error. It is hereby withdrawn. If published, kindly bring it down,” the NCC wrote in a second mail to media publications
What happened? (Price Hikes and Rising Costs)
Last week, Starlink made headlines by doubling its base subscription rate to ₦75,000 ($48) per month. They also increased the price of their kits by 34%, raising it from ₦440,000 to ₦590,000. These price changes come at a tough time for many Nigerians, who are already dealing with high inflation and increased living costs. Even with this hike, Starlink remains the only major satellite internet provider in Nigeria, which is important for people looking for alternatives to traditional internet services.
Regulatory Landscape
The Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA) gives the NCC the power to regulate prices in the telecommunications sector. Under Section 108 of this law, telecom companies must get approval from the NCC before changing their prices. This requirement has caused ongoing disagreements between the NCC and mobile operators, who have kept their prices the same for over eleven years. Despite suggestions to change these rules, the NCC has not shown any willingness to review the current pricing system.
