FG Says Elon Musk’s Starlink to Roll Out Internet Service December 2022

FG Says Elon Musk’s Starlink to Roll Out Internet Service December 2022

  • After seven months, it obtained its license, Starlink owned by billionaire Elon Musk is to roll out internet service in Nigeria
  • The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, disclosed this, saying the service will begin before the end of 2022
  • Pantami stated that the delay in rolling out Starlink’s internet service was due to administrative issues

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The Nigerian government said Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, will be rolling out operations in Nigeria before the end of 2022.

The announcement comes as the federal government entered into a partnership with the billionaire’s space exploration company, SpaceX, to deliver broadband service across Nigeria.

Starlink to operate in the ISP category

Starlink, Elon Musk, SpaceX, Federal government
Elon Musk's Starlink to begin operations soon Credit: NurPhoto / Contributor
Source: Getty Images

Isa Pantami, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, disclosed at the US Space Forum at the just-ended US-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington.

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Starlink will commence operations in Nigeria seven months after it obtained its license to operate as Internet Service Provider (ISP) from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

SpaceX promised to roll out its satellite internet service in the second quarter of 2022 to cover Nigeria but moved the deadline to the fourth quarter due to regulatory issues.

According to Pantami, the nationwide rollout will happen before the end of 2022 after a few administration issues are concluded.

Company received further approvals from federal government

A report quotes the Minister as stating that the federal government had approved the company’s application as a High Throughput Satellite Low-Earth Orbit operator in Nigeria.

Pantami noted that SpaceX would provide broadband access across the country to enable access to broadband connectivity ahead of the December 2025 schedule listed in the National Broadband Plan.

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Nigeria signs Artemis Accord

He said Nigeria would become the first African country to introduce the service.

Pantami signed the Artemis Accords to herald Nigeria’s participation in the next phase of space exploration by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Nigeria and Rwanda were the first African countries to sign the Accord and the 22nd and 23rd in the world.

Elon Musk’s starlink hacked as researcher warns of its vulnerability

Recall that Legit.ng reported that a security researcher, Lennert Wouters said he spent just $25, about N16,500 to build a device that could hack into Elon Musk’s much touted Starlink satellite internet service.

According to Wouters in a press statement, the availability of its User Terminals exposes them to hardware hackers and opens the door for an attacker to freely explore the network.

There was no immediate response from Starlinks.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Pascal Oparada avatar

Pascal Oparada (Business editor) For over a decade, Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment, and the economy. He has worked in many media organizations such as Daily Independent, TheNiche newspaper, and the Nigerian Xpress. He is a 2018 PwC Media Excellence Award winner. Email:pascal.oparada@corp.legit.ng