Nigeria: Elon Musk’s Starlink Expands with New Facilities in Lagos, Ogun, and Rivers
Elon Musk’s Starlink is expanding its presence in Nigeria by establishing new ground stations in Lagos, Ogun, and Rivers states, aiming to boost internet connectivity and reduce latency by bypassing international data centers. In partnership with Equinix, the project covers approximately 29,000 acres, with facilities expected to be completed by 2025.
Starlink’s expansion into these states marks a significant move to enhance Nigeria’s internet infrastructure. The ground stations, located in Okun Ajah (Lagos), Sagamu (Ogun), and Port Harcourt (Rivers), will enable direct communication between Starlink’s satellites and the local internet backbone, reducing reliance on international data routes and improving connection speeds for Nigerian users.
The collaboration with Equinix, a leading data center provider that entered the Nigerian market in 2022 by acquiring MainOne for $320 million, underscores Starlink’s commitment to strengthening its operations in Nigeria. Construction in Lagos is already in progress and is expected to be completed by late 2024, with the other sites following by 2025.
Since obtaining its Internet Service Provider (ISP) license from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in 2022, Starlink has rapidly become a key player in Nigeria’s telecom sector, despite its higher costs compared to local ISPs. This expansion further cements its role in providing faster and more reliable internet services across the country.
