• Nigeria licensed Amazon’s Project Kuiper to operate satellite services from 2026, setting up direct competition with Starlink.

• Amazon plans a low-Earth-orbit constellation of more than 3,200 satellites, with commercial services due in 2026.

• High prices and regulatory hurdles remain major constraints in an African market where about 60% of people lack internet access.

Nigeria’s Communications Commission (NCC) recently authorized US-based Amazon to provide satellite communications services. The move clears the way for the group founded by Jeff Bezos to enter a market already occupied by Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite operator, which has operated in Nigeria since January 2023. With similar business models, Amazon’s arrival sets up a new competitive duel in Africa’s satellite internet market, as the continent remains largely under-connected.

According to the NCC, “this landing permit was granted to Kuiper for the space segment of the Project Kuiper satellite constellation, comprising up to 3,236 satellites, authorized to transmit signals over Nigerian territory from 2026, in line with international best practices.” The license granted to Amazon runs for seven years, from February 28, 2026, to February 26, 2033. Authorities also granted the company an internet service provider license and an international gateway license, valid for five and ten years respectively from January 1, 2026.

Amazon LEO: Ambitions and Deployment

Through Project Kuiper, now rebranded Amazon LEO, Amazon aims to deliver fast and reliable broadband internet worldwide, including areas poorly served or not served at all by traditional infrastructure. To that end, US authorities authorized the company to deploy an initial constellation of more than 3,000 low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites.

After launching two prototype satellites in October 2023, Amazon began large-scale deployment in April 2025 with 27 production satellites. The company currently operates 170 satellites in orbit and plans to raise that number to 212 in February through the launch of 32 additional satellites in partnership with Arianespace.

“Billions of people lack access to broadband internet, while millions of businesses, governments, and organizations operate in areas without reliable connectivity. This situation limits access to modern communications, education, healthcare services, and other essential resources, creating an economic disadvantage for populations and organizations located in unserved or underserved regions,” Amazon said.

Amazon plans to launch commercial services in 2026 as constellation deployment progresses. Users will access the service through dedicated terminals that relay traffic between low-orbit satellites and ground gateway antennas. Amazon has announced three terminal models, offering speeds ranging from 100 megabits per second to 1 gigabit per second depending on size and capability. The company has not yet disclosed commercial pricing.

Starlink: A Strengthening Presence

Starlink entered the African market in January 2023 with offerings and promises similar to Amazon’s. Customers must purchase a connectivity kit priced between $200 and $400, depending on the model, and subscribe to a monthly plan costing between $30 and $50.

The company currently operates in about 25 African countries and plans to launch services in around 20 additional markets this year. While Starlink does not disclose official subscriber numbers, the company counts about 66,000 customers in Nigeria and 20,000 in Kenya.

The service expanded at a time when users sought reliable connectivity for remote work, e-learning, and digital entertainment such as streaming, gaming, and social media. According to the ITU, only 35.7% of Africa’s population used the internet in 2025, highlighting the scale of the digital gap.

Challenges Ahead for Amazon and Starlink

Amazon LEO is likely to face obstacles similar to those confronting Starlink. In the consumer market, Starlink competes with established telecom operators that benefit from stronger local presence. Some players, including MTN, Airtel, and Vodacom, have begun integrating satellite solutions to address coverage and reliability gaps in their networks.

Price remains the main barrier. In 2023, Starlink’s $50 monthly plan represented nearly 37% of gross national income (GNI) per capita per month in sub-Saharan Africa. Even at the lowest $30 tier, the service still accounted for 22.2% of GNI, sharply limiting affordability for mass-market users.

Regulatory barriers also complicate expansion. Rules vary widely across countries and can delay market entry. In South Africa, one of Africa’s largest telecom markets, Starlink remains unavailable because regulations require foreign technology firms to cede a minority stake to historically disadvantaged communities to obtain a license. Other countries have suspended Starlink’s operations due to non-compliance with local regulatory frameworks.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum