In a major move to bridge the digital divide and accelerate broadband penetration, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially granted landing permits and operating licenses to three global satellite giants: BeetleSat, Satelio, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
The announcement, made today, Friday, 16 January 2026, signals Nigeria’s intention to become Africa’s primary hub for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Narrowband IoT (Internet of Things) satellite services.
Each of the three companies brings a unique technological edge to the Nigerian telecommunications landscape.
This is Amazon’s long-awaited LEO satellite constellation. With this permit, Amazon is cleared to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband across Nigeria, directly competing with SpaceX’s Starlink.
An Israeli-based company specializing in LEO constellations that provide high-performance, point-to-point satellite networking. Their focus will likely be on enterprise and government backhaul services.
Based in Spain, Satelio focuses on 5G-IoT (Internet of Things). Their entry is expected to revolutionize Nigeria’s agricultural and logistics sectors by providing satellite-based connectivity for sensors and tracking devices in remote areas.
| Provider | Technology | Primary Target |
| Starlink | LEO (Broadband) | Residential / High-end Users |
| Amazon Kuiper | LEO (Broadband) | Residential / Remote Business |
| BeetleSat | LEO (Networking) | Enterprise / Infrastructure |
| Satelio | LEO (IoT/5G) | Agriculture / Logistics / Industry |
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy highlighted that these licenses are critical to achieving Nigeria’s goal of 70% broadband penetration by the end of 2026.
Especially as, fiber optics are difficult and expensive to lay in remote parts of the North and the Niger Delta. Satellites bypass this physical barrier.
The entry of Amazon Kuiper is expected to spark a “price war” with Starlink, potentially making satellite internet more affordable for the Nigerian middle class.
Satelio’s focus on IoT will allow Nigerian farmers to monitor soil moisture or track cattle via satellite in areas with zero cellular signal.
During the license handover ceremony in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC stated:
“Nigeria is open for business. By welcoming BeetleSat, Satelio, and Amazon Kuiper, we are ensuring that no Nigerian is left offline, whether they are in the heart of Lagos or the farthest reaches of Borno. We are not just buying technology; we are building a foundation for the future of our digital economy.” – NCC Official, 16 Jan 2026.
Telecommunications analysts predict that the increased competition will force traditional GSM providers like MTN and Airtel to accelerate their 5G rollouts or partner with these satellite firms for “tower-to-satellite” backhaul to maintain their market share in rural areas.
