Outrage as Starlink Increases Monthly Subscription to N75,000

By Dipo Olowookere

Some Starlink users in Nigeria have expressed their frustration over the increase in the company’s monthly service plans by almost 100 per cent.

The internet service provider, in a message to its users, announced a hike in the monthly subscription by about 97 per cent.

In the message seen by Business Post, Starlink explained that the increment was due to inflationary pressure in Nigeria, especially because of the foreign exchange (FX) pressure on the Naira.

“Due to excessive levels of inflation, the Starlink monthly service price will increase from the current rates to the respective (new) rates,” a part of the notice said.

The firm, owned by business mogul, Mr Elon Musk, who also owns the popular social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, stated that the new rates will apply immediately to new customers while old customers will begin to pay the new price from the end of this month.

“As a current customer, your monthly service price will increase in one month, beginning October 31, 2024. For new customers, the price increase is effective immediately,” Starlink declared.

In the message to its customers, the company said subscribers of the standard residential plan, who used to pay N38,000 per month, would be required to cough out N75,000 to enjoy the same plan.

It further stated that its mobile regional (Roam Unlimited) users will now pay N167,000 and subscribers of the mobile global roam plan will now pay N717,000.

This hike in service plans has not gone down well with Nigerian Starlink users, who wondered why the firm increased the subscription to N75,000 after it launched in the country over a year ago at a N20,000 monthly fee.