By Abigail Philip David
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced plans to take action against Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider, Starlink, for raising subscription prices in Nigeria without obtaining the regulator’s approval.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, expressed concern over Starlink’s recent price hike, which was implemented without the necessary regulatory clearance.
Last week, Starlink informed its customers that the price increase would affect both new and existing users. The monthly subscription fee was raised by 97%, from N38,000 to N75,000. Additionally, the cost of the Starlink hardware kit for new users increased by 34%, from N440,000 to N590,000.
The NCC emphasized that it had not approved these adjustments. “Starlink’s decision to unilaterally revise its subscription packages upwards did not receive the approval of the Nigerian Communications Commission,” Muoka stated. He added that the company had requested a price adjustment, but the commission had yet to approve it when Starlink went ahead with the changes.
The commission warned that Starlink’s actions could violate Sections 108 and 111 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, as well as the company’s license conditions regarding tariff regulation. Section 108 of the NCA grants the NCC authority to regulate telecom tariffs, requiring companies to obtain approval before altering service charges. Section 111 empowers the NCC to impose financial penalties on licensees that exceed approved tariffs.
“The commission will take appropriate enforcement measures against any licensee that threatens the regulatory stability of the telecommunications industry,” the statement warned.
The NCC is now preparing to enforce penalties in line with its mandate to maintain fair pricing practices in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
