Elon Musk’s vision to reshape technology and everyday connectivity took a significant leap in January 2024, as his company SpaceX, owner of Starlink satellite communications, announced the launch of its groundbreaking satellite-to-mobile communication services worldwide. Starlink’s mission is clear: to provide seamless global connectivity, challenging traditional mobile network operators and telecommunications companies with an ambitious and disruptive technology that transcends current infrastructure limitations.
Using its constellation of communication satellites, Starlink introduces an advanced level of disruption to the telecommunications ecosystem. The company is no stranger to the Nigerian market, having made a remarkable entry in May 2022, when it received its initial licenses from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). These first two licenses, International Gateway and Internet Service Provider (ISP), allowed Starlink to operate as Starlink Internet Services Nigeria Ltd., making it a pioneer in satellite-based internet provision in the country.
According to the NCC, Starlink’s International Gateway license has a 10-year tenure, while the ISP license lasts five years, both renewable upon expiration. These licenses marked the beginning of a strategic plan by Starlink, which aimed to revolutionise internet access across Nigeria and the broader African continent. Armed with six licenses in total and a full suite of regulatory approvals, Starlink entered the Nigerian market with a clear agenda: to democratize internet access, including in underserved and remote communities.
In addition to obtaining these licenses, Starlink signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and distribution agreements with key Nigerian companies, such as Technology Distribution Africa (TD). TD, a major distributor of technology products in Nigeria, is helmed by technology entrepreneur Leo Stan Ekeh, whose involvement signaled a serious commitment to the venture’s success. By partnering with established local entities, Starlink demonstrated its intent to integrate deeply into the Nigerian market.
Furthermore, Starlink committed nearly $30 billion in planned investments for its Nigerian operations alone, a sum that underscores its long-term ambitions. With the government’s goal of achieving 70 per cent broadband connectivity by 2025 as per the National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2020–2025, the presence of Starlink promises to bring this vision within reach.
The suite of licenses held by Starlink in Nigeria includes ISP, International Gateway, International Data Access (IDA), Sales and Installation Major, Gateway Earth Station and Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) licenses. This comprehensive licensing positions Starlink as a formidable player and potential game-changer in Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape, placing it in direct competition with traditional telcos.
When Starlink officially launched in Nigeria in January 2023, it initially set its prices in dollars, at $600 for the hardware and $43 for monthly subscription fees. However, upon launching services, Starlink adjusted to local pricing by quoting in naira, making its services more accessible to Nigerian customers. The company announced that Starlink satellites would provide “direct to cell” capabilities, enabling uninterrupted access to text, voice, and data services anywhere—on land, lakes, or coastal areas—via standard 4G LTE phones without requiring any additional hardware, firmware changes, or special apps.
In January 2024, SpaceX launched 21 new Starlink satellites designed to provide cell phone services anywhere on the planet. Of these, six satellites are configured to connect directly with mobile phones, marking them as Starlink’s first “direct to cell” satellites. Once activated, they allow ordinary, unmodified 4G LTE-compatible phones to connect seamlessly, a breakthrough achieved through a partnership with T-Mobile in the United States. Starlink aims to offer text messaging services this year, with broader voice, data and IoT (Internet of Things) functionalities scheduled for rollout in 2025.
Musk, while celebrating this milestone, acknowledged that while the technology offers unprecedented reach, it is not yet a complete replacement for terrestrial cellular networks due to limitations in bandwidth distribution across large areas. Nonetheless, the service fills a critical gap, providing connectivity in areas that traditional cellular networks have left untouched. As Musk aptly stated, “This is a great solution for locations with no cellular connectivity.”
Starlink has also partnered with Africa Mobile Networks (AMN), a mobile network operator serving Nigeria and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2018, AMN has been deploying rural base stations in Nigeria. In 2023, it signed a deal with SpaceX to leverage Starlink’s satellite backhaul for connecting remote base stations. By April 2024, AMN had integrated over 100 of these rural stations into Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network, resulting in a 45 per cent increase in network traffic at these sites. By June, AMN expanded its operations to over 2,000 base stations across Nigeria.
This partnership enables AMN to increase the capacity of its Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) without modifying existing BTS software. AMN’s ARN technology, which can support up to five simultaneous carriers, combined with Starlink’s backhaul, has unlocked significant capabilities for the network. This advancement has transformed once-disconnected communities, enabling farmers to access real-time market information, healthcare providers to consult with distant doctors and villagers to conduct secure financial transactions.
Starlink’s Direct to Cell service is set to offer revolutionary connectivity solutions by allowing mobile phones to communicate directly with satellites. Unlike traditional mobile networks that rely on extensive ground infrastructure, Direct to Cell eliminates the need for cell towers in remote areas, extending mobile coverage to previously unreachable locations. As a result, mobile operators can expand their network reach by partnering with Starlink rather than building costly infrastructure in difficult-to-reach regions.
Starlink’s constellation of satellites covers the globe, creating the potential for universal mobile connectivity. Each satellite equipped for Direct to Cell service acts as a “cell tower in space” by hosting an advanced eNodeB modem, ensuring network integration comparable to a conventional roaming partner. This setup surpasses the capabilities of earlier satellite telephone networks, which operated at much higher altitudes. By operating closer to Earth (around 550 km) and with more robust satellite architecture, Starlink enables more reliable connections to mobile devices.
Currently, SpaceX is actively seeking collaborations with global mobile network operators to expand this service, already establishing partnerships with major companies like T-Mobile in the United States, Rogers in Canada, KDDI in Japan, Optus in Australia, One NZ in New Zealand and Salt in Switzerland.
As Starlink accelerates its deployment, it has ambitious plans to extend Direct to Cell capabilities to support not only text and voice but also data and IoT services by 2025. This would enable standard smartphones to maintain continuous access to satellite-based 4G mobile services, irrespective of location, as long as they can see the sky. For those on oceans or in specific marine environments, Starlink provides a separate maritime internet service, indicating its commitment to truly global coverage.
By integrating satellite and mobile technologies, Starlink and partners like AMN are poised to close the digital divide, connecting rural and underserved populations to the rest of the world. The implications for economic empowerment, health, education and social interaction are profound. Farmers in isolated regions, for instance, can obtain real-time pricing information, thus optimising their economic opportunities. Similarly, access to mobile connectivity enhances healthcare delivery in remote locations by enabling telemedicine and secure mobile money transfers, which promote financial inclusion.
This connectivity expansion by Starlink isn’t just a technological achievement – it’s a transformation of the global communication landscape, particularly for those long cut off from essential digital services. As Starlink continues to roll out and refine its Direct to Cell offerings, it will likely face regional regulatory challenges and dependence on local partnerships. Nevertheless, its rapid advancements underscore a bold new era for mobile connectivity, where geographic isolation need no longer equate to digital deprivation.
Starlink’s technology exemplifies how innovation in satellite technology can achieve what traditional infrastructure cannot, breaking boundaries and reimagining connectivity for a more inclusive future. In an increasingly digital world, the availability of reliable mobile services is not just a convenience but a necessity – one that Starlink is well on its way to providing across even the most remote landscapes on the planet.
