Internet Service Provider Starlink or Alternatives in Nigeria?: My Personal Journey
As an educator, freelancer, writer, and a consultant who resides and runs a nursery and primary school in an area with little or no internet accessibility in Ondo State, Nigeria, I’ve faced significant challenges in obtaining a stable browsing network. This piece is intended to share my personal experience with internet connectivity in Nigeria. Let me tell you, getting a stable browsing network has been a real challenge.
The Struggle with Traditional Networks
We’ve tried everything — MTN, Globacom, Airtel — you name it. But the service has been far from satisfactory. These connections are often slow and unreliable, making it difficult for our pupils to access online resources and for our staff to carry out administrative tasks efficiently.
The Starlink Option
As a tech aware person, I have followed the introduction of Starlink, the satellite internet service from SpaceX into Nigeria. It has seemed like a promising solution, offering high-speed internet with broad coverage. But the cost of setting up Starlink is quite high for the average Nigerian or a Nigerian low-cost primary school like ours.
The one-time equipment fee is approximately $599 (or N838,600) locally, plus $60 (or N84,000) for shipping. The monthly subscription fee is $33 (or N46,000). Apart from all these cost is the installation fee I will pay to an installer since I might not want to mess things up trying to connect it myself. This is a significant investment, especially for a school like ours.
Online reviews of Starlink in Nigeria have been mixed. While most users have praised the high-speed internet, others have complained about the effects of weather conditions on the service and the price of maintaining one.
Looking for Alternatives
Given the cost and mixed reviews of Starlink, we started looking into alternatives. And guess what? We found that Nigeria has its own satellite internet providers that could really move the needle. Companies like Eutelsat, SES, Viasat, IPNX, Avanti, YahClick, and Coollink have been doing an amazing job connecting rural areas since 2013.
One of the local players that caught my attention is Tizeti. They partnered with Eutelsat in November 2022 to provide services in underserved areas. According to them, they offer “fast and affordable” broadband internet to private residences, businesses, events, and conferences. Could one these ISP providers be the one that will solve our internet connection problems?.
The Chinese Option
I have also explored the possibility of Chinese internet service providers. Huawei, a Chinese company, has secured significant deals in Nigeria but they haven’t ventured into the ISP sphere here. However, we couldn’t find any specific information about Chinese satellite internet services in Nigeria. Would they come to Nigeria soon and try to take over the market like they always want to do? Do we have that much time to wait that long for them to come?.
The Way Forward
In conclusion, while Starlink is a viable option, it might not be the only one. There are local players in the market that are providing valuable services but are they really a more affordable option and do they match the connectivity power provided by Starlink?.
As I continue our journey to find the best internet solution for our school, I remain hopeful that with the right choice, we can provide our pupils, staff and community with the reliable internet they need.
Remember, the internet is a powerful tool for education. Let’s ensure that everyone, no matter where they are, has access to it.
This post is based on personal experiences and online research. Please do your own research or consult with a professional before making any decisions.
