Starlink Expands Connectivity with Ground Stations in Lagos, Ogun, and Rivers

Elon Musk’s Starlink is expanding its footprint in Nigeria by establishing ground stations in Lagos, Ogun, and Rivers States to enhance connectivity across the country. According to sources familiar with the project, Starlink has acquired approximately 29,000 acres of land in these key locations—Okun Ajah in Lagos, Sagamu in Ogun, and Port Harcourt in Rivers.

Starlink is partnering with Equinix, a leader in data center solutions, to build these facilities. Construction has already commenced in Lagos and is slated for completion by Q4 2024, with the other sites expected to be ready by 2025. Although investment details remain under wraps, this large-scale project highlights Starlink’s commitment to solidifying its presence in Nigeria as part of its global expansion.

Ground stations are critical components in Starlink’s network, acting as terrestrial relay stations that communicate with satellites orbiting Earth. These stations facilitate the transmission of data between satellites and the internet backbone on the ground. Starlink’s new stations will bypass the need to route network traffic through international data centers, potentially reducing latency and improving overall internet performance for users in Nigeria.

Starlink entered the Nigerian market in 2022 after acquiring an Internet Service Provider (ISP) license from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), along with a Sales and Installation license and an International Gateway license. These licenses allow Starlink to transmit international voice, data, and other telecommunications services into and out of Nigeria. As of Q1 2024, Starlink has already become the third-largest ISP in Nigeria, surpassing many long-established local providers despite its higher costs.

The ground stations project underscores Starlink’s ambition to become a major player in the Nigerian telecom sector, offering faster, more reliable internet services that could set a new standard for connectivity in the region.

Source: Nairametrics