In a surprising twist, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has withdrawn its earlier statement regarding the satellite internet service provider, Starlink.
The commission issued a brief message on Tuesday acknowledging that the statement was released in error.
This has left many stakeholders in the telecommunications sector bewildered and concerned.
The NCC’s withdrawal comes after it had announced plans to take action against Starlink for increasing its subscription prices without regulatory approval.
On the previous week, NCC Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Reuben Muoka, had publicly condemned Starlink’s actions.
He stated that Starlink had unilaterally raised its subscription fees, violating Sections 108 and 111 of the Nigerian Communications Act of 2003.
“The decision by Starlink to unilaterally review their subscription packages upwards did not receive the approval of the Nigerian Communications Commission,” Muoka declared.
Starlink had raised its monthly subscription fee from ₦38,000 to ₦75,000, an astonishing 97% increase.
The company also hiked the price of its installation kit from ₦440,000 to ₦590,000, a 34% increase.
The company claimed that excessive inflation was to blame for these price adjustments.
The NCC’s initial response was met with a mix of support and criticism from the public and industry experts.
Many stakeholders expressed relief that the NCC was willing to hold a foreign company accountable for its actions.
However, others raised concerns about the regulatory body’s fairness, questioning why local telecom operators have not been granted similar leeway.
A telecommunications analyst noted, “If Starlink can increase its prices without consequences, why can’t our local companies do the same? This is an issue of fairness.”
Local telecom operators, organized under the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), have been vocal about their desire for a tariff review.
They argue that the entire telecommunications industry has been severely impacted by rising inflation and economic pressures.
On Tuesday, the NCC issued a notice asking media outlets to retract any reports related to the statement about Starlink.
“Kindly note that this press statement on Starlink was issued in error. It is hereby WITHDRAWN. If already published, kindly BRING DOWN,” the message read.
This unexpected withdrawal has raised eyebrows among industry stakeholders, who are now questioning the commission’s authority and decision-making process.
“Such a quick retraction is unusual for the NCC. It raises questions about their internal processes,” commented a senior industry executive.
Starlink’s price hike, and the NCC’s subsequent reaction, reflects ongoing tensions in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
Starlink has not officially commented on the withdrawal of the NCC’s statement.
However, the company had previously defended its price increases, attributing them to the economic climate in Nigeria.
In a message to customers last week, Starlink noted, “Due to excessive inflation and rising operational costs, we have had to adjust our pricing.”
