By Milcah Tanimu
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has declared that Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, did not secure regulatory approval before increasing its subscription prices. On October 1, Starlink raised its monthly standard package price from N38,000 to N75,000, marking a staggering 97.37% increase. Additionally, the mobile-regional roam unlimited package now costs N167,000, while the mobile-global roam service price has surged to N717,000. The hardware price also rose from N440,000 to N590,000.
In a statement issued by Reuben Muoka, the NCC’s director of public affairs, the commission expressed surprise over Starlink’s unilateral decision. Although the company had submitted a request for a price adjustment, the NCC had not yet granted approval. Muoka emphasized that this action could violate the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, particularly Sections 108 and 111, which govern tariff regulations.
The NCC asserted its authority to regulate telecom tariffs, highlighting that no service provider can impose charges without prior approval. The commission plans to implement enforcement measures against Starlink for this regulatory breach, including potential financial penalties.
This situation arises as telecommunications operators in Nigeria have indicated that their services have not seen price increases in over 11 years, pointing to a growing demand for tariff adjustments .
