The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has withdrawn a recently issued press statement regarding enforcement actions against Starlink, the satellite internet service provider, for raising its subscription prices without regulatory approval. In a message addressed to media outlets on Tuesday, the NCC acknowledged the statement was released in error and requested that all related publications be retracted.

“Kindly note that this press statement on Starlink was issued in error. It is hereby WITHDRAWN. If already published, kindly BRING DOWN,” the message, signed by NCC’s Manager of Media Relations, Kunle Azeez, stated.

Earlier, Reuben Muoka, the Director of Public Affairs for the NCC, had announced the commission’s plans to take enforcement measures against Starlink after the company raised its subscription prices for Nigerian users without prior approval. According to the now-withdrawn statement, Starlink had increased its monthly subscription fee by 97%, from N38,000 to N75,000. Additionally, the cost of the Starlink kit, necessary for installation, rose by 34% from N440,000 to N590,000.

Muoka emphasized that the price hike had not been approved by the NCC, expressing the commission’s surprise at Starlink’s unilateral decision to implement the changes despite having a pending request for price adjustment with the regulator.

While the commission has not provided further clarification on the error or the status of the Starlink price review, the sudden retraction signals the need for further communication between the NCC and the satellite provider regarding compliance with Nigerian telecommunications regulations.