Starlink users in Nigeria have expressed dissatisfaction over the usage of the satellite internet service due to several challenges plaguing the service.
With just two months of its operation in Nigeria, some users have taken to their social media handles to give their reviews, which have mostly been negative.
Notable Nigerian tech Youtuber, Fisayo Fosudo took to his Twitter handle to share a screenshot showing a failed attempt to run a routine internet speed check on the service under rainy weather. Accompanied by the screenshot, he wrote “This is a screenshot from last night when it rained. Starlink wouldn’t even run the speed test”.
Also, Nigerian rising tech content creator Kagan tech quipped in one of his recent videos sharing some of his reservations about the satellite internet service. He said, “Starlink is the real definition of it rains it pours, the minute it gets cloudy and rains a little bit, that internet speed that everybody is so in love with is going to go kaput”. He further added that even when Starlink is at its best and the sky is completely clear and sunny, the internet speed becomes horrible.
Another Nigerian Twitter user @Tboysquare wrote, “It also happened here, but as soon as it stopped raining or only drizzled lightly, it resumed functioning. The speed was still affected, but it was still useable.”
These negative reviews have somehow deterred some Nigerians who had the intention to purchase the satellite internet service to hold back with some disclosing that it makes no sense to pay for a service so expensive, yet it is plagued by occurrences such as rainfall and cloudy weather.
With the rainy season approaching, these users are worried that the internet service might get worse, making it unbearable for use. Experts disclose that Starlink’s internet service signal weakens during weather conditions like rain, and storms because its signals are transmitted via radio waves which travel best through open air but can get deflected and dispersed when it passes through buildings, water, or heavy foliage.
Meanwhile, Investors King understands that Starlink operates on a satellite internet service technology that has existed for decades. Instead of using cable technology, such as fiber optics in transmitting internet data, the satellite system uses radio signals.
