NCC Licenses Amazon’s Kuiper, BeetleSat for Satellite Broadband in Nigeria

Seven-year permits granted to expand internet access in Africa’s largest telecom market starting 2026

LAGOS — The Nigerian Communications Commission has granted seven-year satellite operating permits to Amazon’s Project Kuiper and BeetleSat to provide broadband services in Nigeria, the office of the special adviser on social media to the president announced Saturday.

The licenses will enable both companies to provide non-geostationary satellite broadband services in Nigeria starting in 2026.

The permits are valid from February 28, 2026, to February 28, 2033, according to information on the NCC’s website. The commission granted the operators Ka-Band spectrum for their frequency band operations.

Amazon’s Project Kuiper received a landing permit for its satellite constellation of up to 3,236 satellites, which will beam broadband signals over Nigerian territory from 2026.

BeetleSat received a landing permit for the Beetlesat-1 Constellation of 264 satellites to beam signals over Nigeria beginning in 2026, the NCC said.

The commission also granted a permit to Satelio IoT Services for S-band operations, valid from February 28, 2024, to February 28, 2030.

Satelio’s landing permit covers a constellation of 491 satellites to beam signals over Nigeria. The company has launched only one satellite so far, the NCC said.

The presidential adviser’s office said the licenses signal a major push to expand internet access, boost competition with providers like Starlink, and improve connectivity in underserved and remote areas across Nigeria.

The NCC said the approvals are in line with global best practices.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest telecommunications market with over 150 million mobile subscribers.