NCC Takes Action Against Elon Musk’s Starlink Price Hike
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced plans to take enforcement measures against Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, for its recent decision to increase subscription prices without regulatory approval.
The announcement came via a statement from NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, on Tuesday, October 8. This follows Starlink’s recent notification to customers indicating a staggering 97% hike in its monthly subscription fee—from N38,000 to N75,000—along with a 34% increase in the cost of its installation kit, now priced at N590,000.
Muoka expressed the NCC’s astonishment at Starlink’s unilateral price adjustments, emphasizing that the company had previously filed a request for a price increase that had not yet been approved.
“The decision by Starlink to unilaterally review its subscription packages upwards did not receive the approval of the Nigerian Communications Commission,” he stated.
He further clarified that this action contravenes Sections 108 and 111 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, which governs telecom tariffs in the country. These sections mandate that no service provider can impose charges without prior approval from the NCC, and they empower the commission to impose financial penalties on licensees who exceed approved tariffs.
Muoka warned, “The commission will therefore take appropriate enforcement measures against any action by a licensee that threatens the regulatory stability of the telecommunications industry.”
