Nigeria Grants Seven-Year Satellite Internet Licenses to Amazon LEO and European Firms to Boost Connectivity
Nigeria’s Communications Commission has granted seven-year operating licenses to Amazon LEO, the low-Earth orbit satellite internet unit of Amazon, alongside companies from Israel and Germany, in a move aimed at expanding satellite-based internet services across Africa’s largest telecommunications market.
Under the new licenses, Amazon will be allowed to deploy 3,236 satellites to provide fixed and mobile broadband services, as well as connectivity for vehicles, ships, and aircraft, from February 2026 through February 2033. The regulator also approved licenses for Israel’s NSLComm to operate its BeetleSat network consisting of 264 satellites, and Germany’s Satelio IoT Services, which plans to develop a 491-satellite Internet of Things (IoT) constellation.
The decision comes as Nigeria seeks to counter the growing dominance of Starlink, operated by SpaceX, which had amassed more than 66,000 subscribers by mid-2025, despite monthly prices exceeding $38 following currency volatility and rising import costs.
By opening the market to multiple satellite operators, Nigerian authorities aim to attract investment, expand coverage, and improve service quality—particularly in remote and underserved regions with limited terrestrial internet infrastructure. Amazon is expected to launch full commercial operations in the second quarter of 2026, following a testing phase and gradual deployment of local infrastructure.
The move underscores intensifying competition in Africa’s satellite internet sector, with expectations of improved service quality and more competitive pricing for end users.