NCC Retracts Sanction Threats Against Elon Musk’s Starlink

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has retracted its earlier announcement to sanction Starlink for increasing its subscription prices without regulatory approval.

According to the NCC, the initial statement was issued in error but did not specify whether Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, had since received the necessary approval or if the retraction was merely a clerical mistake.

Its revised statement read:

“Kindly note this press statement was issued in error. It is hereby withdrawn. If published, kindly bring it down.”

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This development follows accusations from telecom stakeholders who criticised the regulator for allegedly applying double standards by allowing Starlink to raise prices while blocking local operators from doing the same.

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Starlink recently increased its monthly subscription fees in Nigeria by a staggering 97 per cent, from N38,000 to N75,000, citing “excessive inflation” as the reason.

This latest twist comes as local telecom operators, represented by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), continue to advocate for a tariff review to reflect the economic realities of rising inflation and operating costs.

In August 2024, the NCC mandated telcos to provide subscribers with full disclosure of all tariff components and conditions.

Shortly after, Nigerian telecom operators considered a load-shedding strategy to manage operations amidst financial pressures while lobbying for tariff increases.

The NCC acknowledged the challenging operating environment but suggested that operators’ claims about economic conditions affecting service quality were part of their strategy.