If you’ve ever tuned in to watch Big Brother or the UEFA champions league on MultiChoice’s DStv, you’ve likely used Eutelsat’s satellite service. But the European behemoth has ambitions beyond broadcasting; it’s challenging Starlink in ways that could redefine the satellite internet landscape in Africa.
“We aim to connect 1 million unconnected in sub-Saharan Africa within the next 3-4 years. Nigeria is pivotal to this considering the number of unconnected people and the impact of connectivity on economic growth.” says Modupe Okeowo, Country Manager for Konnect, Nigeria., launched in 2020, offers speeds of up to 100 Mbps for its users.
The use of segmented pricing and innovative speed limits has allowed Konnect and its partner, Coollink, to navigate the challenges of low purchasing power and high capital costs in Nigeria. Compared to Starlink whose pricing starts at ₦30,000, Konnect seems to better understand the local market. The Konnect satellite is geostationary, compared to Starlink’s Low Earth Orbiting satellites. Not to bore you, just know that Konnect is farther from the Earth, and covers a wide area that lets you access the service wherever you live in Nigeria.