The Nigerian government says the recent internet price increase imposed on Nigerian subscribers by Starlink Nigeria Limited, the local business unit of US-based Spacex, was not approved by the nation’s telecoms industry regulator.
“The decision by Starlink to unilaterally review its subscription packages upwards did not receive the approval of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),” Mr Rueben Muoka, spokesman of the telecoms regulator, said today in a statement.
According to the Nigerians telecoms regulator, “we were surprised that the company jumped the gun by announcing price changes after filing a request to the Commission seeking approval for price adjustment for which the Commission was yet to communicate a decision.”
For the Nigerian telecoms industry regulator, “the action of the company appears to be a contravention of Sections 108 and 111 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, and Starlink’s licence conditions regarding tariffs. The Commission will, therefore, take appropriate enforcement measures against any action by a licensee that is capable of eroding the regulatory stability of the telecommunications industry.”
NCC: Starlink jumped the gun
For the Nigerian telecoms industry regulator, “the action of the company appears to be a contravention of Sections 108 and 111 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, and Starlink’s licence conditions regarding tariffs. The Commission will, therefore, take appropriate enforcement measures against any action by a licensee that is capable of eroding the regulatory stability of the telecommunications industry.”
Editor’s note: Please check back shortly for more on this developing story.
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