SpaceX’s satellite internet service, Starlink, has crossed the 9 million customer mark globally, underscoring the accelerating demand for satellite-based connectivity worldwide.
The company announced the milestone in a post on X, noting that Starlink now operates in 155 countries and territories. Reacting to the achievement, SpaceX founder Elon Musk said the service is “rebuilding the whole internet in space.”
The growth is being mirrored in Nigeria, where Starlink has rapidly expanded its footprint. As of the third quarter of 2024, the satellite provider emerged as the country’s second-largest Internet Service Provider (ISP), a position it has continued to hold.
Starlink’s user base has grown at an exceptional pace. SpaceX reported 4.6 million customers globally in December 2024. That figure climbed to about 7 million by August 2025, rose further to 8 million in November, and has now reached approximately 9 million.
An Insider report citing Cloudflare data also shows that global web traffic from Starlink users more than doubled in 2025, suggesting that customers are increasingly relying on the service for everyday internet use, not just as a backup option.
Starlink has become central to SpaceX’s business model. Elon Musk has described the satellite internet service as the company’s largest source of revenue, surpassing its rocket launch operations in terms of recurring income.
Market speculation suggests SpaceX could consider an initial public offering as early as next year, with valuations estimated as high as $1.5 trillion. Musk has also hinted in the past that Starlink itself could eventually be spun off as a separate public company.
Although Starlink received its ISP licence from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in May 2022, it officially launched commercial services in Nigeria in January 2023.
Its satellite-based model, which allows coverage in hard-to-reach and underserved areas, quickly attracted users. By Q3 2024, Starlink had 65,564 subscribers in Nigeria, making it the second-largest ISP behind Spectranet. NCC data shows it retained this position in Q2 2025, with 66,523 customers.
The service’s rapid adoption has been driven by Nigeria’s persistent broadband gaps, unreliable power supply, and strong demand from businesses, tech startups, and remote workers seeking stable internet access.
Starlink’s expansion in Africa is set to deepen, with its direct-to-cell technology expected to play a major role in bridging connectivity gaps across the continent. Airtel Africa recently signed an agreement with SpaceX to roll out Starlink’s direct-to-cell services in several African countries, including Nigeria.
As Starlink scales further, its growing presence in Nigeria highlights the country’s importance in the global push for reliable, next-generation internet connectivity.
