Jeff Bezos’ Amazon takes on Starlink as Africa’s biggest telecom market expands satellite internet options

Nigeria, Africa’s largest telecom market, is opening its skies to more satellite internet providers as Amazon LEO, the tech giant’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, secures approval to operate across the country.

• Nigeria expands its satellite broadband market by issuing seven-year operation permits to Amazon, Israel's NSLComm, and Germany's Satelio IoT Services.
• These permits allow deployment of advanced satellite systems to enhance nationwide connectivity from 2026 onwards.
• Starlink, currently leading in subscribers in Nigeria's satellite broadband sector, faces competition with Amazon's market entry.
• Amazon's Project Kuiper constellation will provide broadband and mobile satellite services within Nigeria.

Nigeria has expanded its satellite broadband market, granting seven-year operating permits to Amazon’s low-Earth-orbit satellite unit, alongside operators from Israel and Germany.

The move positions Amazon alongside Starlink, Elon Musk’s SpaceX service, offering Nigerians new choices for high-speed connectivity and signalling a new phase in the continent’s digital expansion.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said it has issued commercial satellite permits to Amazon LEO (formerly Project Kuiper), Israel’s NSLComm for its BeetleSat network, and Germany-based Satelio IoT Services, allowing them to deploy non-geostationary satellite systems over Nigerian territory from 2026.

The approvals place the new entrants alongside Elon Musk-owned Starlink, which currently dominates Nigeria’s satellite internet segment, and reflect Abuja’s push to attract investment, improve broadband coverage, and align its regulatory framework with global standards.

Amazon received a seven-year landing permit authorising its 3,236-satellite Ka-band constellation to operate in Nigeria between February 2026 and February 2033.

The permit allows Amazon LEO to provide fixed broadband, mobile satellite services, and connectivity for moving platforms such as ships and aircraft.

NSLComm was cleared to deploy its 264-satellite BeetleSat-1 network, while Satelio IoT Services received approval for a planned 491-satellite Internet-of-Things system, though only one satellite is currently in orbit.

The NCC said opening the market to multiple satellite operators would accelerate broadband rollout, especially in underserved and remote areas where fibre and mobile networks have struggled to deliver reliable service.

Amazon Enters a Starlink-Dominated Market

Amazon’s arrival reshapes a market already transformed by Starlink. By the end of the second quarter of 2025, Starlink had amassed 66,523 subscribers, making it Nigeria’s second-largest internet service provider despite premium pricing, according to industry data.

The rapid adoption underscored pent-up demand for stable, high-speed internet across Africa’s most populous country.

Starlink’s pricing has been volatile, reflecting Nigeria’s currency instability and rising import costs.

Monthly fees now stand at roughly $38, up from about $25 earlier in 2024, following regulatory intervention that blocked a sharper increase.

The pricing remains out of reach for many households, reinforcing concerns about affordability even as coverage expands.

Amazon LEO enters with deep financial resources, global infrastructure, and a phased market strategy.

According to Space in Africa, the company has opened a waitlist across government agencies, individual users, and corporate customers, and began enterprise preview testing in November 2025 ahead of a wider rollout.

Full commercial operations are unlikely before the second quarter of 2026, giving Amazon time to scale its constellation and local support infrastructure.

Under U.S. regulatory requirements, the company must deploy at least half of its satellites by mid-2026.

Africa’s Connectivity Race Intensifies

Nigeria’s decision highlights a broader continental shift toward satellite internet as African governments seek faster paths to digital inclusion.

With Starlink proving demand and Amazon adding competitive pressure, analysts expect improvements in service quality and, potentially, pricing.

As Africa’s largest economy embraces new satellite options, the broader implications could include a faster adoption of digital services, from e-commerce and telemedicine to online education, strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure and connectivity resilience.