Starlink, FibreOne Rebound in 2025 as Spectranet Faces Sharp Subscriber Decline

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In the latter half of 2025, Starlink and FibreOne are experiencing a rebound in momentum, solidifying their rankings as Nigeria’s second and third-largest internet service providers, respectively.

Innovation Village reports that this resurgence contrasts the misfortunes of long-reigning market Spectranet, which saw its subscriber base plummet below the 100,000 mark for the first time since the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) began publicly tracking ISP data.

In the second quarter alone, Spectranet shed 3,732 users, sliding from a robust 103,252 down to 99,52. this represents a critical contraction for the legacy giant that had previously maintained a consistent six-figure subscriber base.

Starlink also faced headwinds during the same window, losing over 6,000 subscribers as it dipped from 65,564 to 59,509. Yet, unlike that of Spectranet, this downturn was a temporary blip.

According to Space in Africa, by the close of Q2 2025, Starlink had fully recovered, rallying to 66,523 subscribers, not only surpassing its Q4 2024 peak but also validating the immense resilience and loyalty of its user base.

Spectranet, conversely, continued its downward trajectory, highlighting persistent internal struggles regarding service reliability, customer retention mechanics, and an inability to adapt its market strategy to a changing landscape.

FibreOne was not immune to the market’s volatility either, experiencing severe turbulence early in the year. During the first quarter, the fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) provider endured one of the sharpest crashes in the sector’s history, watching an estimated 42% of its subscriber base evaporate. The provider’s active user count free-fell from 33,898 at the close of 2024 to a mere 19,823 in Q1 2025.

However, FibreOne executed a convincing turnaround by the second quarter of 2025, clawing back market share to reach 37,117 subscribers—more than doubling its Q1 low and firmly reasserting its dominance in the fiercely competitive wired broadband space.

The adoption patterns established throughout the previous year largely prefigured these seismic shifts in 2025. NCC data from 2024 reveals that active internet subscriptions across all ISPs expanded by 8.9%, climbing from 262,206 in December 2023 to 285,605 by December 2024.

Spectranet closed 2024 as the undisputed heavyweight with 102,486 subscribers, followed by Starlink at 60,862, while FibreOne maintained a steady 19,000 subscribers as of December 2024, retaining its status as the premier provider within the wired broadband category.

In the wireless segment, Spectranet commanded nearly half the total market with 47.3% of subscriptions. In comparison, Starlink captured 28.4%—a clear signal of how rapidly the new entrant had cannibalised market share nationwide.

Distinct structural advantages and a fundamental shift in consumer behaviour underpin Starlink’s sustained success. Its Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology delivers high-speed connectivity to virtually every corner of Nigeria, unlocking access for rural and underserved regions where traditional fibre and LTE infrastructure is either absent or economically unviable.

A vast number of users, fatigued by the inconsistent speeds, frequent outages, and geographic limitations of legacy ISPs, found Starlink’s promise of reliability irresistible.

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Despite Starlink’s hardware and subscription costs being significantly higher than those of Spectranet or FibreOne, a growing demographic—comprising remote workers, SMEs, and heavy data users—proved willing to pay a premium for the assurance of consistent uptime.

Both Spectranet and FibreOne grappled with periods of severe service degradation, prolonged downtimes, and overwhelmed customer support channels throughout the reporting period.

For Spectranet specifically, this continuous erosion of its subscriber base does more than just lower recurring revenue; it severely constrains the capital available for critical upgrades, marketing, and innovation, creating a vicious cycle that threatens to further weaken its competitive standing.

The rise of reliable, satellite-based internet (Starlink) and the recovery of fibre networks (FibreOne) have profound implications for tourism. As Nigeria and the broader African continent increasingly position themselves as destinations for “bleisure” (business + leisure) and international remote workers continue to commit to long stays in Lagos or Abuja, they require a guarantee of 99% uptime. The stabilisation of high-speed providers directly supports the hospitality industry’s ability to market to this lucrative demographic.

Historically, Nigeria’s prime ecotourism spots (e.g., Obudu Cattle Ranch, Gashaka Gumti National Park) suffered from digital isolation. With Starlink’s 100% geographic coverage, luxury lodges in remote areas can now offer high-speed Wi-Fi. This allows tourists to share real-time content (social proof) and stay connected for safety, significantly increasing the appeal of “off-grid” locations that previously felt too isolated for modern travellers.

Given that the tourism sector is dominated by SMEs (travel agents, small hotels, tour operators), the shift from erratic LTE to stable fibre or satellite connectivity reduces downtime for booking platforms and payment gateways, thus ensuring seamless transactions for international visitors who rely on card payments.

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FAQs

1. Why is Spectranet losing so many subscribers?

Spectranet faces challenges with service reliability, network congestion, and rising operational costs (diesel for base stations), leading to dissatisfaction among users who are switching to more stable alternatives like Starlink.

2. Is Starlink faster than FibreOne and Spectranet?

Generally, Starlink offers higher speeds and lower latency compared to Spectranet (LTE). While FibreOne (fibre-to-the-home) can offer comparable or higher speeds, Starlink provides superior reliability in areas with poor electricity or frequent fibre cuts.

3. How much market share does Starlink have in Nigeria?

As of the latest data, Starlink controls approximately 28.4% of the wireless/satellite segment and has firmly established itself as the second-largest ISP in the country by subscriber count.

4. Why did FibreOne lose 42% of its customers in Q1 2025?

The drop was attributed to performance inconsistencies, rising costs, and highly competitive offers from rivals. However, they successfully addressed many of these issues to double their subscriber base by Q2 2025.

5. Is Starlink available in rural Nigeria?

Yes, Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellite technology covers the entire country, making it the most viable option for rural and underserved areas where fibre and mobile tower signals are weak or non-existent.