Starlink in Nigeria: All You Need to Know

SpaceX chose Nigeria as the place to launch its product, Starlink. The company announced the news of making Nigeria the foremost country in Africa to use the product.

This announcement shows that Nigeria is on the path to improved quality and wider reach when it comes to internet usage. Starlink is about the future of digitization and Nigeria will be at the forefront of development in Africa.

Since the news that Starlink is now fully operational in Nigeria was released, there have been several inquiries about the development, including how excellent Starlink is, how to obtain it, how to install it, and the advantages associated with it.

To provide you with the most recent information on using Starlink, we will explain the responses to these questions in this article.

What is Starlink?

A space-based internet system called Starlink is produced by Elon Musk’s renowned business SpaceX, which is known for its cutting-edge technology. The initiative represents a fundamental change in how people are given access to services on the internet.

Internet customers will have more speed and access thanks to this method, which is based on the usage of satellites rather than the current internet service provider.

Low-orbit satellites will be integrated with other technologies by SpaceX to develop a low-latency internet service that will be accessible in different parts of the country at all times and on all days.

At the moment, SpaceX has a sizable number of operational satellites that are already in place. As of 2022, SpaceX has over 4000 satellites launched into the earth to cater to expanding the network coverage. The goal is to launch more satellites increasing the number till it outnumbers the rest of the earth

The uprising of Starlink will cause a disruptive shift in the telecommunications industry. The business will not be as usual for the gatekeepers in the industry if Starlink succeeds definitely.

However, this development is good as it will put them on their toes to match up with the innovations that Starlink has in place and as well revolutionize the primitive ways of providing internet service. 

Also, check out MTN Wifi and MIFI Plans.

Who is Starlink for?

Starlink can be used by anyone for different purposes whether for personal or business as long as you need internet access and services and you can afford it. 

Starlink in Nigeria 

SpaceX announced that they will be operational in Nigeria on their Twitter page on January 30, 2023. Initially, there have been plans by Elon Musk and the SpaceX team to expand the reach of Starlink to Africa after starting in North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom. 

The announcement gladdens Nigerians as they were envious of other tech companies choosing their rival country, Ghana other times in the past. In addition, it is a boost for the digitization level of the country. 

How to get and use Starlink in Nigeria 

If you are interested in getting Starlink in Nigeria, visit the website to order and checked if it is available for your selected locations. The process is easy as it is similar to ordering your favorite food or desired clothes.

However, the only obstacle is the present situation of the ban on Naira cards for international transactions. The alternative is to pay using a dollar card operated by your domiciliary accounts or use dollar virtual cards for the transaction. 

The Cost of Starlink 

On the website, the price for the Starlink package is $599 in total, with the initial deposit of $9.99, and the rest to complete the transaction. Using the CBN exchange rate, the total cost for ordering Starlink is N274,096 for the hardware kit at the time of writing this post.

Nevertheless, if you are not using a platform that uses the CBN rate, then the running cost runs up to N400,000 to N450,000 naira. 

Depending on the platform you are using for payments they may be additional charges for the transaction.

Furthermore, the monthly billing cost of using Starlink is N19,260 after the one-time payment for the hardware kit. 

What is in the Starlink Hardware Kit?

The Starlink hardware kit comprises a Wifi Router Unit, a dish, a dish mount, a cable for connecting the dish to the base unit, and the power cable. The beautiful things about the hardware are the ease of installation, minimalistic design, and portable size. 

You can also shop online for additional resources such as mounts, longer cables, routing kits cables, adapters, and mesh nodes depending on your preferences through the official online shop for Starlink. 

Furthermore, SpaceX has three kinds of kits based on performance rating. They have standard, high-performance, and flat-performance packages. The difference between these three packages is the price, accessories, and performance level of hardware.

The standard package is the basic package where you have the basic components such as a router, dish, dish mount, base, power cable, and connecting cable. The standard package is best for residential use and normal use of the internet.

On the other hand, the high-performance package is better in performance than the standard package. If you are a heavy user of the internet or need an internet service for your business, then this hardware kit is for you.

With this hardware kit, you have access to more satellites and more withstanding ability to perform in harsh weather conditions. Also, the package contains a Starlink cable, Router Cable, and Ethernet Cable in addition to the normal components.

Finally, the flat performance package is the peak when it comes to connectivity and performance compared to the other two hardware kit packages. It is available for all countries but only a few approved countries.

The components of the flat-performance hardware are the same as that of flat-performance hardware with the difference being that it has components such as a Router Mount, Power Supply Mount, and Router Cable, and also has enhanced GPS enhanced capabilities. It is used in challenging environments and for mobility applications. 

How to Install Starlink Hardware Kit 

As stated earlier, setting up your Starlink hardware kit is easy and very fast. You do not necessarily need a technical expert to help you install it. Starlink uses the plug-and-play kind of installation process to make it easy for the user.

You can install your kit on the ground level or mount it on the pole as you wish. However, the important thing is that the dish has a clear view of the sky. 

Click here to see the step-by-step guide on how you can install the Starlink hardware kit. Also, you can watch the installation guide by clicking here to watch a well-explanatory video on how you can go about it, 

Starlink Internet Speed

Starlink promises fast internet with low latency. Starlink’s internet service typically offers rates of about 100 Mbps, however, some customers have seen up to 600 Mbps. The location, the weather, the equipment, and other variables may all affect the actual speed.

Starlink Vs Traditional Telecommunications Companies in Nigeria 

While Nigerian telecommunications firms are conventional telecommunications providers that use terrestrial networks to deliver internet and other communication services, Starlink is a space-based internet service provider created by SpaceX.

When comparing the two, Starlink has the benefit of offering internet access to remote locations that terrestrial networks might not be able to reach, whereas Nigerian telecommunications companies have the benefit of offering a more established and dependable infrastructure as well as a wider range of services.

In Nigeria, utilizing Starlink is more expensive than using regular telecommunications services, but the advantages of quicker and more reliable internet access more than makeup for this.

Final Notes on Starlink in Nigeria

Starlink is an innovation from Elon Musk under his company, SpaceX. The project aims to turn around the way services and access to the internet will be now and projected into the future.

Starlink works with low-orbit satellites forming a network for communication. The technology is faster and better than the internet from the internet service providers in Nigeria.

Before you go, check out the Importance of Technology in Education.