How The Newly Launched Starlink’s Direct To CellPhones Internet Connectivity Can Rescue Nigeria’s GSM Companies
The Oasis Reporters
November 24, 2024
One of the biggest events of the century will be known as the entry of Elon Musk into the space race where he is innovatively turning the technological business on its back, breaking new barriers and resetting the old ways of doing things in new and exciting ways.
When former president Olusegun Obasanjo came into office and opened up the entry of GSM companies into Nigeria in the early 2000s, MTN of South Africa came in despite noticing the infrastructural deficits in a huge country with insufficient electric power. They promised themselves to provide their own electric power and do their business.
Their prosperity in the most populous country in Africa enabled them to jump from no.3 telecommunications company in South Africa to becoming the number one company in Africa, just by leveraging on the Nigerian numbers.
But with the present economic situation in the country regarding the withdrawal of fuel subsidy and the record high inflation in the country, their hallelujah chorus they initially sang is becoming worrying unto themselves and their customers.
Other GSM companies are facing difficulties as well. Most base stations are working intermittently, either due to lack of diesel to power the thousands of towers that they own or maintain all over the country.
But here are some solutions, thanks to SpaceX company owned by Elon Musk. He posted on X formerly known as Twitter:
“Starlink’s new system enables Internet connectivity for your mobile phone with no extra equipment or special app. It just works”.
Here’s the real explanation:
STARLINK’S DIRECT-TO-CELL (DTC) GOES GLOBAL Major telcos are teaming up with @Starlink to revolutionize connectivity! Here’s who’s onboard:
T-Mobile (U.S.)
Rogers (Canada)
One NZ (New Zealand)
KDDI (Japan)
Optus (Australia)
Salt (Switzerland)
With @SpaceX ‘s DTC tech, say goodbye to dead zones and hello to seamless global coverage. Get ready for the future of mobile networks!
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1860705853604790414
Isn’t that wonderful?
Imagine a Nigerian GSM company like 9Mobile that has very few tower outlets in the country and it’s customers porting to other networks signs up for instance, the company could be all over the country much faster.
If the price structure is right, GSM phones can connect from anywhere to low orbit satellites and the groove starts with little or no downtimes.
It’s worth exploring. The earlier the better.
X (Twitter)
Greg Abolo
gregabolo@gmail.com
