The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is taking a bold step to bring mobile coverage to areas that traditional cell towers haven’t reached.
Around 23.3 million Nigerians currently live in regions underserved by terrestrial networks, and the regulator believes satellite technology could be the answer.
Using satellite-to-phone service—also called direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity—ordinary smartphones could connect straight to satellites for calls, texts, and data, bypassing the need for nearby cell towers.
For many remote communities, this could finally close the connectivity gap.
Consultation Paper Seeks Stakeholder Input
In a consultation paper posted on its website, the NCC laid out plans to explore satellite D2D services across Nigeria.
The regulator wants feedback from operators, tech experts, and consumers to determine how best to roll out the service while keeping competition fair, spectrum usage efficient, and users protected.
The consultation is based on findings from the NCC’s 2024 cluster gap study, which flagged 87 clusters where mobile service remains limited.
According to the commission, combining different approaches—tailored to geography, population density, and operational realities—will be key to achieving nationwide coverage.
Technology Makes Satellite Services Feasible
Advances in satellite and non-terrestrial network technology now allow mobile devices to communicate directly with orbiting satellites.
Where laying fiber or building base stations is too costly or logistically challenging, satellites can deliver service more quickly and efficiently.
“NCC is exploring a mix of approaches tailored to specific locations and operational conditions to achieve national connectivity objectives,” the consultation paper explains.
Stakeholder insights will help guide regulatory frameworks, spectrum allocation, and deployment strategies.
Industry Moves Signal Satellite Adoption
The NCC initiative aligns with its 2025–2030 Spectrum Roadmap, which emphasizes non-terrestrial networks as a complement to existing mobile infrastructure.
Industry players are moving fast: in December 2025, Airtel Africa inked a deal with SpaceX to roll out Starlink-powered direct-to-cell services across 14 African markets, including Nigeria.
This service, starting in 2026, will initially support texting and limited data via more than 650 satellites, making Airtel the first African operator to offer Starlink D2D technology.
The goal is to reach underserved regions and expand connectivity for its 59 million Nigerian customers.
Rural Nigeria Remains Offline
Connectivity gaps are stark in rural Nigeria, where nearly half the population—about 105 million people—live with little or no mobile or internet access.
National broadband penetration sits at roughly 50 per cent, but 23 million Nigerians remain completely unconnected, leaving 61 per cent of rural residents offline.
High infrastructure costs, scattered villages, limited electricity, and rugged terrain make traditional base stations expensive and slow to roll out.
Even with government support through the Universal Service Provision Fund, operators tend to prioritize urban areas where returns are quicker.
Satellite Services Could Bridge the Gap
Projects like MTN-Huawei’s RuralCow, which uses solar-powered mini-stations, have shortened infrastructure payback periods to three years, but coverage remains patchy.
Satellite D2D services like Airtel-Starlink present a promising alternative.
By bypassing traditional base stations, satellites offer a more cost-effective way to connect Nigeria’s rural blackspots.
As the NCC continues its consultation and the telecom industry embraces new technology, millions of Nigerians could finally get the mobile and internet access they’ve long been waiting for.
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