Elon Musk’s Starlink has climbed to the second spot among Nigeria’s Internet Service Providers (ISPs) by subscriber numbers, according to the latest data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
As of the third quarter of 2024, Starlink’s active users in Nigeria surged to 65,564, surpassing FiberOne, which previously held the second position. This marks significant growth from December 2023, when the company had 23,897 customers and ranked third. In just nine months, Starlink added 41,667 new subscribers.
Spectranet, one of Nigeria’s oldest ISPs, retained its leading position with 105,441 active customers at the end of Q3 2024. However, the company lost over 8,000 subscribers in the first three quarters of the year, down from 113,869 in December 2023. FiberOne, which had been the second-largest ISP, fell to third place with 33,010 active customers.
NCC data shows that 241 companies hold ISP licenses in Nigeria, but only 124 had active customers as of Q3 2024. These ISPs collectively served 307,946 customers, a modest figure compared to the dominance of mobile network operators (MNOs). By September 2024, MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile had a combined 132.4 million internet subscriptions.
Since entering the Nigerian market in January 2023, Starlink has attracted strong interest, despite its higher costs compared to local ISPs. Its satellite-based service appeals to users in areas with poor network coverage, driving rapid adoption.
In December 2024, Starlink raised its subscription price from N38,000 to N75,000 per month, following a dispute with the NCC over a previous unapproved price adjustment.
With increasing demand, the company had to temporarily suspend new orders in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt due to capacity constraints. Similar shortages were reported in Benin City and Warri.
Starlink’s fast-growing presence signals shifting dynamics in Nigeria’s internet market, with traditional ISPs struggling to keep pace.
