Starlink Internet in Nigeria: things you need to know.

Elon Musk’s Starlink Internet device is now operational in Nigeria, making the country the first in Africa to have the service. This post is intended to assist prospective Nigerian purchasers in deciding whether to invest in Starlink or not and what to expect from the service.

Starlink Hardware

A receiver, a router, a power cable, and a network cable are included with the Starlink kit. The box weighs approximately 6 kg and is approximately 18 inches (I didn’t measure it). The network cable is 75 feet long and comes linked to the receiver, providing for a rooftop installation of up to five floors high.

Cost and Unlimited Data

The service is N19,260 ($41.8) (as 2023 naira to dollar exchange rate) per month, but there’s an ongoing attempt to increase the monthly subscription fee from N38,000 (2024 N to $) to N75,000, while the hardware price has increased from N268,584 to about N590,000. Starlink provides limitless data, but if you consume more than 1 TB of data in a month, your bandwidth may be deprioritized, resulting in lower bandwidth.

Comparing Starlink to 5G and Fibre

Starlink is far superior to my experience with 4G. In terms of speed, latency, and coverage, it can be compared to both 5G and Fiber. Although 5G boasts faster speeds and lower latency, it has lower coverage relative to Starlink. Fiber offers higher maximum and median speeds than Starlink, it is very prone to fiber cut issues, available in very limited areas like Ikeja and relatively more expensive. For individuals who require more widespread coverage, particularly in rural regions, Starlink is surely a better option.

Advantages

• Unlimited data, at last we have a better alternative to MTN, Airtel, Glo and Nigeria internet service providers.
• Widespread coverage, especially in rural regions, whether I am in Kogi, Oyo, Ogun, Abuja or Lagos, access to good internet I can rely on, thanks to Starlink
• Ability to connect to a VPN server using the Starlink. Your internet doesn’t have to be so sluggish anymore because of VPN with Starlink.
• Starlink is unaffected by light rain or wind, but heavy storms can cause the service to drop out for a few minutes and slow down. Weather issues are more problematic in low-capacity areas
• Simple to install yourself, it’s a no-brainer. It’s important to have a clear view of the sky without any interruptions as the dish moves and requires clearance to face the sky and rotate.

Disadvantages of Starlink

• Using Starlink requires a power source as it is not rechargeable. In a country like Nigeria, where electricity is unreliable, power design is an important aspect to consider.
• We are uncertain about the customer service
• It’s quite clumsy to move around quite often. (Not designed to for that though)
• Price for hardware is high
• Considering poor security in Nigeria, I opine this is very susceptible to theft.
• Being an Early Adopter, it may get cheaper

Ordering and Payment:

You can order Starlink on their website, https://www.starlink.com/. Payments can be made in dollars through Chipper, Payday, Gotox, or Root by Sudo virtual dollar cards. Unfortunately, payments cannot be made in Naira.

Delivery Time and Testing

Delivery time may take two to four weeks or more after payment. Testing this Starlink device in the west and northern part of Nigeria, The average upload speed is about 20Mbps, with potential download speeds of over 240Mbps — 290Mbps and above 100Mbps at the lowest, with decent latency.

Conclusion

Investing in Starlink may not be for everyone, given its limited availability, high cost, and weather sensitivity. However, for those who need more widespread coverage, especially in rural areas, Starlink may be a better alternative to 5G and fibre.