Elon Musk’s internet company, Starlink, is making significant moves in Nigeria by planning to establish ground stations throughout the country. This strategic initiative aims to boost connectivity for millions of Nigerians, marking a transformative step in the nation’s internet infrastructure.
According to sources close to the project, Starlink has secured around 29,000 acres of land across three states—Lagos, Ogun, and Rivers—for these developments. Key locations for the ground stations include Okun Ajah in Lagos State, Sagamu in Ogun State, and Port Harcourt in Rivers State. Construction is already underway in Okun Ajah, with completion expected by the fourth quarter of 2024. The other sites are projected to be operational by 2025.
In collaboration with Equinix, a leader in data center solutions, Starlink is building these ground stations to reinforce its presence in Nigeria. Equinix entered the Nigerian market in 2022 by acquiring MainOne, a major data center and connectivity provider, in a $320 million deal.
These ground stations, known as Gateways, are crucial for Starlink’s satellite-based internet service. They serve as terrestrial relay points, communicating with Starlink satellites in orbit to transmit data between the satellites and the internet backbone on the ground. By setting up local ground stations, Starlink aims to bypass international data centers, potentially reducing latency and enhancing internet performance for Nigerian users.
For consumers in Nigeria, this development promises a substantial improvement in connectivity. Currently, much of Nigeria’s network traffic is routed through international data centers, causing delays and potential bottlenecks. The new ground stations are expected to streamline this process, providing faster and more reliable internet services for both individuals and businesses.
Starlink entered the Nigerian market in 2022 after obtaining an Internet Service Provider (ISP) license from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The company also secured a Sales and Installation license and an International Gateway license, enabling it to establish and operate facilities for transmitting international voice, data, and other telecommunications services.
Since its official launch in Nigeria in January 2023, Starlink has quickly become a significant player in the country’s telecom sector. By the first quarter of 2024, data from the NCC showed that Starlink had become the third-largest ISP in Nigeria, following Spectranet and FibreOne. Despite higher costs compared to local ISPs, Starlink has experienced a surge in customer numbers, thanks to its satellite service’s ability to provide connectivity in areas with poor internet coverage.
With the completion of its ground stations, Starlink is set to further cement its position as a major force in Nigeria’s telecom landscape, offering a new standard for internet connectivity across the country.
Researched by Tunde Ojediran.
Student intern, XGALogic Inc.
For 1stAfrika 2024.
