ABUJA, Jan 18 – Nigeria has issued seven year commercial satellite communications permits to Amazon’s Kuiper Systems, Israel linked BeetleSat and Germany based Satelio IoT Services, deepening the country’s push to expand space based broadband infrastructure.
The Nigerian Communications Commission said the approvals were issued under its commercial satellite communications guidelines, a licensing framework aimed at attracting investment into the satellite and space communications sector.
The decision opens Africa’s largest telecoms market further to non geostationary satellite systems, placing Nigeria alongside countries accelerating deployment of next generation satellite broadband.
Under the approvals, Amazon’s Kuiper Systems will provide Ka band satellite services over Nigeria through its Project Kuiper constellation of 3,236 satellites. The licence runs from February 2026 to February 2033, according to the regulator.
NSLComm’s BeetleSat was granted similar clearance for its planned 264 satellite BeetleSat 1 network, while Satelio IoT Services received approval for a 491 satellite Internet of Things constellation. Satelio currently has one satellite in orbit.
The NCC said the permits support its efforts to fast track satellite broadband expansion, improve connectivity in underserved areas and align Nigeria’s regulatory environment with global best practices.
The approvals add to a growing list of satellite operators cleared to operate in Nigeria, including Elon Musk owned SpaceX, as competition intensifies to provide high speed internet via space based platforms.
