Tech
NCC backtracks on Starlink statement amid controversy over price hike
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has withdrawn its statement regarding Starlink, a satellite internet service provider, citing that it was released in error.
The NCC’s Manager of Media Relations, Kunle Azeez, urged editors and journalists to retract any related publications, in a terse statement on Tuesday.
He said, “Kindly note that this press statement on Starlink was issued in error. It is hereby WITHDRAWN. If already published, kindly BRING DOWN.”
This development comes after the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, had earlier announced plans to take enforcement measures against Starlink for increasing its subscription prices in Nigeria without regulatory approval.
READ ALSO: NCC to sanction Elon Musk’s Starlink for unauthorized price increase
The price hike, which affects both existing and new customers, saw the monthly subscription fee jump by 97% from N38,000 to N75,000, while the cost of the Starlink kit rose by 34% to N590,000.
Muoka stated that Starlink’s decision to unilaterally increase prices did not receive NCC approval, adding that the commission was “surprised” by the announcement, despite the company’s pending request for a price adjustment. This move sparked concerns that Starlink’s services may become a luxury only affordable for high- to middle-income earners in Nigeria.
The NCC’s initial statement sparked widespread criticism, with stakeholders questioning the commission’s handling of the situation. The withdrawal of the statement raises questions about the commission’s regulatory stance on Starlink’s operations in Nigeria.
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