• Nigeria granted Amazon Kuiper a seven-year license starting February 2026

• The move opens competition with Starlink in the LEO satellite segment

• Authorities aim to boost connectivity and attract tech investment

Nigeria’s satellite broadband market is set to welcome a new global player. Amazon has secured a seven-year landing permit from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), allowing its Kuiper project to launch internet services in the country from February 2026. The approval marks a key step in Nigeria’s strategy to diversify connectivity infrastructure and attract next-generation technology investment.

The NCC said the authorization aligns with global best practices and reflects Nigeria’s willingness to open its satellite communications market to next-generation broadband service providers, citing strong and growing demand for connectivity.

The license allows Amazon Kuiper to operate its space segment in Nigeria as part of a global low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation that could reach up to 3,236 satellites. The company is authorized to offer fixed satellite services (FSS), mobile satellite services (MSS), and earth stations in motion (ESIM), covering households, businesses, and mobility needs, including logistics, aviation, maritime transport, and critical infrastructure.

Amazon’s entry ends Starlink’s near-exclusive position in Nigeria’s LEO satellite internet market. Until now, Elon Musk’s company had benefited from a first-mover advantage, with an estimated subscriber base of more than 66,000 in the country. Kuiper’s arrival introduces direct competition between two global players with significant financial, technological, and industrial capacity, a dynamic likely to affect pricing, service quality, and coverage.

On the technical side, the approval covers the use of Ka-band frequencies, known for high data transmission capacity. Using 100 MHz channels, Amazon is targeting speeds of up to 400 Mbps while keeping terminal costs compatible with large-scale adoption. These features strengthen satellite broadband’s position as a credible alternative to terrestrial networks, including in urban and semi-urban areas.

Nigeria is a strategic market for Amazon, with a population of more than 200 million and persistent connectivity gaps. According to the NCC, more than 23 million Nigerians live in unserved or underserved areas, while mobile broadband penetration stood at 50.58% in November 2025. In this context, LEO satellites, with their low latency, are seen as a key tool to support advanced digital uses, from cloud computing to digital financial services.

Beyond households, Kuiper’s services could meet the needs of businesses in sectors such as oil and gas, mining, ports, and logistics corridors, where fiber deployment remains costly or technically challenging. Amazon, which rebranded Project Kuiper as Amazon LEO in November 2025, also plans to leverage integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to offer combined connectivity and cloud solutions.

With this approval, Nigeria reinforces its position as one of Africa’s most dynamic markets for satellite broadband. Increased competition among LEO operators is expected to support faster, more affordable, and more resilient internet access, benefiting consumers, businesses, and the country’s digital economy.

Samira Njoya