NCC licenses Amazon’s Kuiper, BeetleSat to provide satellite broadband services in Nigeria
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved seven-year satellite operating licenses for Amazon’s Project Kuiper and BeetleSat, the office of the special adviser on social media to the president announced.
The licences will allow the companies to provide non-geostationary satellite broadband services in Nigeria starting in 2026, the office said in a post on X on Saturday.
“This move is aimed at expanding internet access, increasing competition with existing providers such as Starlink, and improving connectivity in underserved and remote areas across Nigeria,” the announcement added.
According to the NCC website, the licenses will be valid from February 28, 2026, to February 28, 2033, and the companies have been assigned Ka-Band spectrum for their operations.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper has been granted a landing permit for its satellite constellation, which will consist of up to 3,236 satellites delivering broadband coverage across Nigeria. BeetleSat received a permit for its Beetlesat-1 constellation of 264 satellites, also set to begin operations in 2026. The BeetleSat approval, covering S-band operations, is valid from February 28, 2024, to February 28, 2030.
The NCC also confirmed that Satelio has received approval for a 491-satellite constellation to provide coverage over Nigeria, though the company has launched only one satellite so far.
The commission emphasized that all approvals were issued in line with international best practices, signaling a significant step toward enhancing satellite-based internet services in Africa’s largest telecom market.
