NCC (1).jpg
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stated that Starlink did not receive approval for its recent subscription price increase to N75,000. The NCC plans to enforce regulations against the satellite internet service provider, highlighting the importance of compliance in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stated that Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, did not obtain approval before raising its subscription prices. On October 1, Starlink increased its monthly fee to N75,000 from N38,000, citing inflation as the reason for the 97.37 percent hike. The mobile-regional roam service now costs N167,000, while the mobile-global roam service is priced at N717,000. Additionally, the price for Starlink hardware rose from N440,000 to N590,000.

In a statement, NCC's director of public affairs, Reuben Muoka, expressed surprise at the company's announcement, revealing that while Starlink had filed a request for a price adjustment, the NCC had not yet approved it. Muoka indicated that the unilateral decision to increase prices is a violation of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, particularly sections 108 and 111, which require regulatory approval for tariff changes.

The NCC plans to enforce penalties against Starlink for this action, emphasizing its role in maintaining regulatory stability within the telecommunications sector. Section 108 empowers the NCC to regulate telecom tariffs, while Section 111 allows for financial penalties against any licensee that imposes charges exceeding approved tariffs.