Starlink adds 500,000 new users as Konga slashes kit price
SPACEX'S satellite Internet system, Starlink, has added 500,000 new users in the last four months.
In a new video posted, Elon Musk reported that Starlink's global user base has reached 2.7 million users—up from 2.2 million in December.
Musk announced in a speech dedicated to talking about Spacex's ongoing effort to send humans to Mars and colonise the Red Planet.
"Starlink will also be very important for high bandwidth communication to and on Mars," he said. Though Musk didn't say where the growth is coming from, increasing subscriber count is crucial since he plans on using Starlink profits to fund Spacex's other projects, including those focused on Mars.
"Starlink is incredible for providing connectivity throughout the world, and also paying for a lot of what we’re doing here,” he said during his speech.
In the same presentation, Musk said the Starlink satellite constellation around Earth now features over 10,000 lasers, enabling the outfitted satellites to beam data to each other in space.
In January, a Spacex engineer said these lasers were already transmitting 42 petabytes of data for customers per day, and helping to drive down latency while expanding Starlink's coverage across the globe.
In addition to serving home internet users, Spacex is also building a cellular Starlink system to beam broadband to unmodified smartphones. On Saturday, the company successfully launched a second batch of six “direct to cell” satellites.
Recall that Starlink, which announced its presence in Nigeria in January 2023, as of ending of last year, had a Nigerian customer base of about 11,207.
MEANWHILE, Konga, which is the only official Starlink shop-in-shop ecommerce partner, is offering customers a 50 per cent discount on satellite kits for a limited period subject to stock availability.
Konga Group Chief
Operating Officer, Dave Omoregie, said this official promo was agreed upon with the management of Starlink, owned by Spacex. He stated that this special promo is to discourage the patronage of grey products that are not supported by Starlink and advised consumers in Nigeria to only buy through authorised channels like Konga Group.
He said this special price is subject to stock availability and encouraged Nigerians to immediately take advantage of it. He also assured that delivery in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and some selected states shall be on the same day, while other states may take up to four days. The new price went live on April 9.