Amazon’s Project Kuiper enters Nigeria’s internet market, rivals Elon Musk’s Starlink

Nigeria’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband market is poised for intensified competition following the approval of operating licences for Amazon’s Project Kuiper by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

In a move that directly challenges the dominance of Elon Musk’s Starlink, the NCC has granted Amazon Kuiper both an Internet Service Provider (ISP) licence, valid for five years, and an International Data Access (IDA) licence with a 10-year tenure. The approvals clear the way for Amazon to formally roll out satellite-based broadband services in Nigeria.

The NCC said the authorisation reflects Nigeria’s openness to global technology investments and aligns with national efforts to expand digital connectivity, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.

The Commission noted that demand for high-speed and reliable internet services continues to rise across the country, making satellite broadband a critical component of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure strategy.

Under the licences, Amazon Kuiper is permitted to operate its space segment in Nigeria as part of a planned global LEO constellation of up to 3,236 satellites.

The approval allows the company to provide Fixed Satellite Services (FSS), Mobile Satellite Services (MSS), and Earth Stations in Motion (ESIM), enabling broadband delivery to homes and businesses, as well as connectivity for mobile platforms.

This scope positions Amazon Kuiper to serve a wide range of use cases, including aviation, maritime transport, logistics corridors, oil and gas operations, mining sites, ports, and other critical infrastructure where terrestrial fibre networks are costly or difficult to deploy.

The NCC’s approval also covers the use of Ka-band spectrum, which supports high-capacity data transmission. Amazon is targeting broadband speeds of up to 400 megabits per second using 100 MHz channels, while aiming to keep terminal equipment affordable to drive mass-market adoption.

READ ALSO: Nigerians cut spending as Starlink, Spectranet, other ISPs suffer sharp drop in subscribers

Until now, Starlink, operated by SpaceX, has enjoyed a strong first-mover advantage in Nigeria’s LEO satellite internet market since its official launch in January 2023.

Industry estimates indicate that Starlink has over 66,000 subscribers in Nigeria, making the country one of its fastest-growing markets globally.

NCC data shows that by the third quarter of 2024, Starlink had become Nigeria’s second-largest internet service provider with 65,564 subscribers, trailing only Spectranet, the country’s oldest ISP. As of the second quarter of 2025, Starlink retained that position with 66,523 active customers.

The entry of Amazon Kuiper introduces direct competition between two global technology giants with deep financial resources and advanced satellite infrastructure.

Analysts expect the rivalry to influence pricing models, service quality, customer acquisition strategies, and geographic coverage, potentially delivering better value and wider access for Nigerian consumers and businesses.

Nigeria remains one of Africa’s most strategic broadband markets, with a population exceeding 200 million and persistent connectivity gaps.

According to NCC figures, more than 23 million Nigerians still live in unserved or underserved areas, while mobile broadband penetration stood at 50.58 per cent as of November 2025.

LEO satellite systems, which offer significantly lower latency compared to traditional geostationary satellites, are increasingly viewed as essential for enabling advanced digital services such as cloud computing, fintech, e-commerce, telemedicine, remote education, and remote work.

Beyond consumer broadband, Amazon Kuiper is expected to target enterprise and government customers, particularly in sectors that require resilient and wide-area connectivity.

Following its rebranding to Amazon LEO in November 2025, industry observers also expect Kuiper’s satellite services to be integrated with Amazon Web Services (AWS), allowing the company to offer bundled cloud and connectivity solutions in Nigeria.

Starlink was granted ISP and Full Gateway Services licences by the NCC in 2022, paving the way for its rapid expansion across Nigeria. Its success has already disrupted traditional ISPs, many of which have struggled to retain customers amid rising demand for reliable, high-speed internet.