2023 will be a fast year for many reasons. We are already a week behind and its remaining 51 weeks may soon be covered faster than imagined.
As tech billionaire Elon Musk has shown interest in the Nigerian market with his Starlink company in 2022, many have been looking to see what Musk’s team has to offer.
Some described the move as a win for heavy Internet users, especially startups, companies, remote workers and freelancers.
Elon Musk’s Starlink has received regulatory approval to operate in Nigeria 🇳🇬. A big W for businesses. Free from the shackles of the usual epileptic ISPs.
— Slimfit ® (@iSlimfit) May 27, 2022
While many people consider it a worthy exploit, some analysts have raised concerns about how it could be a potential threat to existing ISPs, especially local ISPs like Mike Adenuga’s Globacom, which launched on the 29th exactly 20 years ago. August, 2003.
Starlink is here. How will this affect the Glo market?
— TechMind (@Justolaola) January 7, 2023
There is a market for any product in Nigeria. It is a wonderful country that does not discriminate and is always open to accepting and adapting new ideas and products.
2023 is no different. Starlink is now in use in Nigeria and here is the first gadget review of the internet service device.
How much does it cost to own a Starlink device?
When the pre-order was announced in 2022, management set it at $100. According to Starlink, the price was to reserve purchase slots for interested and potential customers.
They said that anyone who pays will receive a notification to pay for the actual orders, an additional $500 to cover the $600 acquisition fee once the gadgets are ready for the market.
Elon Musk’s Starlink is now available for pre-order in Nigeria. I tried to do this today only to find that it will cost almost N450,000 to set up and about N32,000 per month. Will you still buy one or is MTN good? pic.twitter.com/QwV6y2b7O9
— Mayowa Tijani (@OluwamayowaTJ) January 3, 2023
As of January 7, there is a long waiting list of Nigerians who have pre-ordered and are waiting to complete their purchases.
The right guy. I’m just waiting for myself pic.twitter.com/vShVxnu6vj
— Ndifreke Ekim (#Obidient) 💯 (@bitsprogrammer) January 6, 2023
It will initially cost Nigerians interested in getting the device around ₦450,000 excluding the US$43 monthly subscription fee for unlimited data usage. At $43, this means Nigerians need to budget about ₦31k to enjoy uninterrupted internet connection in the most remote places.
How does the device work?
The power source is one of the most important aspects of any electronic device. In engineering: the easier the source of energy or power, the easier the product is to market.
This is especially true and for a country like Nigeria where electricity is epileptic, power design is critical.
The Starlink device scores low here. Using Starlink requires you to plug the device into a power source during use as it is not rechargeable like MTN Mifi devices.
READ ALSO:Elon Musk’s Starlink Will Cost Nigerians N479,035; MTN, Airtel, others to benefit
Companies, co-working centers, corporate offices or 24/7 solar powered homes will find the device well suited. Additionally, these types of radio internet devices can be a waste of investment for struggling SMEs as they consume electricity and may require air conditioning to keep the device cool.
How do you pay?
It is important to know how to pay for orders. Like most e-commerce products, you are expected to pay via cards and tokens.
For the Starlink device, some users explained that they paid for their order with a dollar card.
With the dollar restrictions imposed by the CBN, the dollar card may be the only option.
A recent shopper, Twitter user Bello Gbadebo, revealed that it took him a week to receive his device after payment.
“I pre-ordered when it was ready to ship in October,” he said. “The pre-order cost $100. I last ordered in December and it took a week and a few days to get here. It costs $500, it’s only $600.”
What is speed and latency?
“Most of the time it goes down a lot and up a few times. It goes as low as 18ms, but not all the time,” says Bello, who tested the device from his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He added: “It got about 20 Mbps in the initial test and later went up to about 240 Mbps. The delay is also quite reasonable.”
I just had a chance to test myself @SpaceX #Starlink out. I haven’t tested it extensively (intend to do so this weekend), but so far I’m very impressed. In the initial test it got about 20 Mbps and then it went up to about 240 Mbps. Latency is also pretty decent. pic.twitter.com/4e3w0jqXDL
— Bello Gbadebo (@Gbahdeyboh) January 3, 2023
What are people saying?
Apart from Bello’s, other reviews about the product and company are not positive. Many complained of poor customer support, and some had to wait for months.
I kindly ask, can I get my satellite dish this year?
It’s been 2 years!!
2 years on pre-order! pic.twitter.com/aHgLNRZmlZ— brett birmingham (@bigairmingham) January 4, 2023
@elonmusk time to cage in starlink internet customer service. People who have so many issues with new food and customer service are wild. Long delays and people are left without service and people leave because of it. Tks
— Ray Tobin (squishydead) (@stingray66) January 6, 2023
Dear uncle @elonmusk , I received my starlink kit on 6th December, today is 13th December and they still haven’t sent it, what is there? Are there production delays? Or because my order hasn’t shipped yet? Thank you for your help in this regard
— Disco Stu (@Disco_1980__) December 13, 2022
Starlink should be in the philippines Delay..
— wag ki bot (@wag_ki) December 5, 2022
How ready is Starlink for Nigeria? How ready are Nigerians for Starlink?
Nigeria can be a good market for products, but it can also be a killer. The banning of bicycle companies like Gokada, MaxNG and Opay by the Lagos Government remains fresh in the memory. We can ask again: How ready is Elon Musk’s Starlink for Nigeria? How ready are Nigerians for Starlink?
Join the conversation
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