Elon Musk’s Starlink is bolstering its Nigerian operations by establishing ground stations in key locations across the country, enhancing connectivity and internet services.
The company has acquired approximately 29,000 acres of land in Lagos, Ogun, and Rivers States to set up the facilities, which will boost data transmission and reduce latency..
Starlink made its entry into Nigeria in 2022 with the acquisition of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) licence from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Aside from the ISP licence, Starlink also acquired two other major licences, which include a Sales and Installation licence and an International Gateway licence.
The International Gateway licence allows Starlink to establish and operate facilities for the transmission of international voice, data, and other telecommunication services into and out of Nigeria.
Starlink is collaborating with Equinix, a leading data centre solutions provider, to build the ground stations, leveraging Equinix’s expertise and resources.
The ground stations will streamline internet traffic, bypassing international data centres and providing faster, more reliable services to Nigerians.
Starlink’s expansion solidifies its position in the Nigerian telecom sector, with the company becoming one of the largest players in the industry.
Despite higher costs, Starlink has garnered significant interest among Nigerians, becoming the third-largest ISP in the country within a year of operation.
