With a new project, Starlink intends to improve Internet service in Nigeria. Across three states in Nigeria, the Internet satellite provider SpaceX is establishing ground stations on around 29,000 acres.
According to sources, Starlink is committed to growing its global network, as seen by the project’s scale and the vast land needed for these ground stations.
These ground stations will be in Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Sagamu, Ogun State; and Okun Ajah, Lagos. Construction has already begun in Lagos and is anticipated to be finished by the end of 2024; the other locations are scheduled for completion in 2025.
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Their new ground stations are the key to linking Starlink’s satellites to the Internet. They eliminate some international delays, which helps to accelerate data transfer. This translates to quicker and more dependable Internet for Nigerians.
Starlink is collaborating with Equinix
Starlink is collaborating with Equinix, a significant leader in data centre solutions, to roll out these stations. In 2022, the American Internet corporation made news when it paid $320 million to acquire MainOne, signalling its deliberate foray into the Nigerian market.
Furthermore, Starlink made waves from the moment it arrived in Nigeria in 2022 and by early 2024, it was the third-largest ISP. People enjoy its satellite service even if it costs more than local ISPs, especially in areas with lousy Internet access.
About Starlink
With service in 102 countries, Starlink is a satellite internet constellation run by Starlink Services, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the US aerospace company SpaceX. Another goal is to offer mobile broadband everywhere.
In 2019, SpaceX began launching Starlink satellites. As of early March 2024, it consists of more than 6,000 mass-produced tiny satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) that are in communication with specific ground transceivers. With a potential later extension to 34,400, the planned number of satellites to be deployed is close to 12,000 units. In December 2022, SpaceX reported having over a million subscribers; in September 2023, it reached two million; and in May 2024, it reached three million.
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About Equinix
With its headquarters in Redwood City, California, Equinix, Inc. is a worldwide American corporation focusing on data centres and Internet connections. The business has 260 data centres spread across 33 countries on five continents, leading the global colocation data centre market share.
In December 2021, Equinix purchased MainOne, a West African supplier of connectivity solutions and data centres with locations in Ghana, Nigeria, and the Ivory Coast, for $320 million.
In a world where digitalisation is the norm, they connect top industries, including banking, manufacturing, retail, transportation, government, healthcare, and education. Business executives use their dependable worldwide platform to link and assemble the essential elements that drive their success safely and sustainably.
They adopted Equinix to symbolise the company’s focus on EQUality, Neutrality, and Internet eXchange. Equinix was founded in 1998 in Silicon Valley as a vendor-neutral multitenant data centre provider where leading networks join together to connect networks and share data traffic securely.