Hello,
Bolu here, Chimgozirim, and Ogheneruemu here,
Here’s what we have for you today:
- MultiChoice Nigeria increases DStv and GOtv prices
- 5G users increase to 1.24% of Nigeria’s active mobile subscribers
- Starlink gets regulatory approval in Ghana
MultiChoice Nigeria increases DStv and GOtv prices
The price of watching your favourite football team on DStv or GOtv has just gotten higher. MultiChoice Nigeria has announced at least a 25% increase in their subscriptions, noting that the rise in the cost of business operations has led them to make this “difficult decision.”
By May 1, 2024, Premium subscribers will go from paying ₦27,500 ($19.77) to ₦37,400 ($27.10). The highest GOtv subscription will also go from ₦12,500 to ₦15,700.
This is the second time in six months that MultiChoice is increasing subscription prices. Last time, the increase was at least 19%.
Doing business is getting harder: From an increase in electricity prices to diesel, petrol, and a volatile currency, doing business in Nigeria is getting challenging.
MTN for example, lost $101 million to forex this year and it is considering a tariff hike to make up for the huge loss.
This increase in DStv prices are steep and my heart goes out to football fans and others who get their entertainment from MultiChoice. I on the other hand only need a Netflix subscription and data connection to rewatch Big Bang Theory for the umpteenth time.
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5G users increase to 1.24% of Nigeria’s active mobile subscribers
Can you guess who wrote this portion of the newsletter? Hint: I like fun facts.
Let me tell you a short story: In September 2022, MTN Nigeria launched the first 5G network in the country. Fast forward to March 2024, following Airtel Nigeria and Mafab Communications’ 5G debuts in 2023, 5G penetration has grown to 1.24%.
Source: The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC)’s latest industry statistics report released on April 24, 2024.
As of December 2023, 5G penetration in the country had risen to 1.04%. This increased to 1.11% in January this year, and then 1.18% in February.
That’s not all. Sadly, 2G remains the network with the largest coverage, standing at 56.97%. 4G comes in at 32.74%, 3G at 9.04%.
The number of active mobile subscribers has increased by 2,142,142. This is calculated yearly, so the latest figures show that as of December 2023, that number stood at 224,713,710.
You’ve probably already guessed who wrote this part of the newsletter (hopefully you are correct), so I’ll leave you with a fun fact, courtesy Intelpoint.
Did you know? Starlink had the 4th highest active subscribers among Nigeria’s ISPs as of Q3 2023. Find out more here.
Starlink gets regulatory approval in Ghana
Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA) has approved Starlink’s application to offer satellite broadband services in Ghana.
The NCA disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Ghana’s Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful previously hinted at the approval in March during a parliamentary briefing shortly after large parts of the West African region suffered Internet outages.
Starlink’s approval to operate in Ghana comes after the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization approved the Satellite Licensing Framework.
While Starlink’s application has been approved, it is yet to receive a licence to operate in the country.
“The administrative processes towards the issuance of the licence is ongoing and will be completed shortly,” the NCA’s statement read.
Since it launched in Nigeria in January 2023, the satellite Internet service provider has gone on to offer services in other African countries. However, it has met with regulatory pushback in many of these countries.
In Ghana, the NCA declared its operations illegal and warned Ghanaians against using or selling the satellite Internet provider. The NCA stated that Starlink failed to receive a licence to operate in the country.
Over in Botswana, the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority declared it illegal to use or sell Starlink products, while the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe threatened users and distributors of the service with arrest.
Only last week, the Internet service provider announced it would be disconnecting subscribers in Ghana, South Africa, and Botswana from its services and one hopes this is the end of its tussle with regulators.
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