Details-Starlink in Ghana

After months of rumors and delays, Elon Musk’s ground-breaking satellite internet service, Starlink, has finally made its way to Ghana. Starlink aims to revolutionize the way Ghanaians work, learn, and interact by providing high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity through its network of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.

HOW DOES STARLINK WORK?

Starlink’s technology relies on a constellation of thousands of satellites orbiting Earth at a much lower altitude than traditional satellites. This proximity allows for faster data transfer speeds and reduced latency, making the service feel more like a terrestrial internet connection.

As of April 2024, the network boasted approximately 5,800 LEO satellites, ensuring widespread coverage and reliable performance.

STARLINK’S SERVICE PLANS AND COST IN GHANA

Starlink offers a range of service plans to cater to different needs and budgets. Below are the costs for personal/residential usage.

Standard Plan: Priced at GH₵770 per month, this plan provides unlimited data, making it suitable for households and individuals with moderate internet usage.

Standard Priority Plan: Available for GH₵1,078 per month, the Priority Plan offers unlimited standard data, along with additional features such as public IP access, network priority, and priority support. It’s ideal for businesses and users with high data demands.

Roam Mobile Plan: Starting at GH₵1,540 per month, this plan is designed for those who need internet connectivity on the go, including remote workers, campers, and businesses operating in various locations. It offers unlimited mobile data within Ghana, with pricing adjustments based on the desired level of priority data.

Roam Priority Plan (BOATS): Tailored for maritime users, emergency responders, and mobile businesses, this plan provides specialized features like inland and ocean use data, network priority, and priority support. The cost ranges from GH₵4,428 per month for 50GB of data to GH₵17,710 per month for 1TB of additional data.

HOW MUCH DOES THE STARLINK ROUTER AND DISH (HARDWARE) COST FOR GHANAIANS?

In addition to the subscription fees, customers will need to purchase the necessary hardware, which includes a Starlink dish and router. The hardware cost is currently GH₵5,390, with an additional GH₵354 for shipping.

IS STARLINK CHEAPER THAN EXISTING INTERNET SERVICES IN GHANA?

As of August 2024, Starlink is more expensive than existing internet services in Ghana while Starlink offers high-speed, low-latency internet, it comes at a premium. The initial hardware cost and monthly subscription fees are higher compared to traditional providers like MTN, Telecel Ghana (previously Vodafone), and AirtelTigo.

WILL STARLINK BE FASTER THAN CURRENT INTERNET SERVICE IN GHANA?

Indeed. Starlink is intended to deliver noticeably quicker internet access than many of the other options now available in Ghana, even if particular speeds may vary depending on factors including location, network congestion, and weather.