Starlink Reopens High-Cost Business Plan in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt

Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by SpaceX, has reopened its Business (Priority) subscription plan in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt after months of “Sold Out” notices in Nigeria’s major urban centres.

The reopening, which took effect on February 14, 2026, restores a previously suspended service tier that was paused alongside residential subscriptions as network congestion worsened in high-demand cities. The move does not introduce a new product but reactivates access to the premium package for customers willing to pay higher fees.

Under the Business plan, subscribers are required to pay ₦159,000 (about $99.38) monthly, excluding hardware costs that can exceed ₦4 million ($2,500). This places the package significantly above the residential plan, which currently costs ₦57,000 ($36) per month.

In several high-demand neighbourhoods such as Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki and Surulere in Lagos, as well as parts of Abuja, new residential subscriptions remain unavailable. Prospective users in those areas are being prompted to either upgrade to the Priority plan or place deposits to join a waitlist without a definite activation date.

A review of multiple Lagos locations on Starlink’s website indicates that only Priority plans are currently accessible in many districts due to sustained demand pressures.

The development comes amid rising competition in Nigeria’s satellite broadband market. In January 2026, Amazon secured regulatory approval to operate its satellite internet service, Project Kuiper, in Nigeria—signalling intensifying rivalry in the sector.

Starlink’s capacity constraints in Nigeria, similar to challenges faced in Kenya, have been building since late 2024. After reaching capacity in major cities, the company became embroiled in a pricing dispute with the Nigerian Communications Commission over proposed tariff adjustments that had not received final regulatory clearance.

The disagreement contributed to an eight-month nationwide freeze on new residential subscriptions between November 2024 and June 2025. Although residential orders resumed in mid-2025 at moderated rates, demand in densely populated areas has continued to outpace available bandwidth, leaving several parts of Lagos and Abuja effectively closed to new home users since September 2025.

The Business plan offers either 1TB or 2TB of Priority Data monthly, after which speeds may be deprioritised, though data usage remains technically unlimited. Business subscribers also receive priority technical support and a publicly routable IPv4 address, a feature considered critical for organisations operating servers and secure enterprise networks.

Hardware requirements vary. While the standard Starlink kit costs approximately ₦590,000 ($369), business customers are advised to purchase the Flat High Performance dish, priced between ₦3.15 million ($1,969) and ₦4.1 million ($2,563), to ensure more stable connectivity in demanding environments.

Globally, Starlink has accelerated satellite deployment. As of February 24, 2026, SpaceX had completed 18 Starlink missions this year, launching about 428 satellites. The active constellation now exceeds 9,700 satellites, including newer Direct-to-Cell units designed to connect directly to smartphones.

By reopening its premium tier in Nigeria’s commercial hubs, Starlink appears to be capitalising on sustained urban demand while managing network congestion through higher-priced offerings.