The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has drawn a line in the sand for satellite internet users, issuing a final, non-negotiable deadline for biometric registration. Over 66,000 Starlink subscribers across Nigeria now face the imminent threat of having their internet access suspended if they fail to comply by December 31, 2025.
The Final Countdown for Compliance
This regulatory directive represents a significant expansion of the commission's authority. Initially targeting mobile network operators, the NCC's subscriber verification framework now encompasses satellite internet providers like Starlink. The commission first communicated this requirement to Starlink in a formal letter dated August 19, 2025, setting an original three-month compliance window that ended on November 19.
However, following discussions with industry stakeholders, the NCC granted a short extension. The new and final deadline is December 31, 2025. A spokesperson for the commission has emphatically stated that no further extensions will be granted, placing the onus squarely on individual subscribers to complete the process before the year ends.
Simple Process, Severe Consequences
Starlink began formally notifying its customer base via email on Monday, December 29, 2025. In the communication, the company described the verification as a quick process taking "less than two minutes" but attached a stern warning. Failure to complete the registration will result in service suspension.
The stakes are heightened by a critical caveat: restoring service after a suspension is not guaranteed. Reactivation will depend entirely on the available network capacity in the subscriber's specific location. This means users in high-demand areas that are already at capacity may find themselves unable to reconnect immediately, or possibly at all.
The registration process itself is straightforward and digital. Subscribers are required to:
- Upload a clear headshot photograph.
- Provide their National Identification Number (NIN).
- Consent to linking their NIN with their Starlink account.
This can all be done through the Starlink mobile app or customer portal, eliminating the need for any physical visit to an office.
Capacity Constraints Amplify the Urgency
The warning about capacity-based reactivation is not an empty threat. In major urban centers, many areas have reached full subscription capacity. In Lagos, neighborhoods like Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki, and Ikeja frequently show as "sold out" on Starlink's availability map, accepting only waitlist deposits.
A similar pattern is evident in the Federal Capital Territory, where multiple districts in Abuja are at capacity. This reality adds a layer of urgency to the NCC's directive, as losing service could mean a prolonged or permanent loss of connectivity for users in these saturated zones.
A Regulatory Precedent from Mobile Networks
The move to include Starlink users is a direct extension of the NCC's highly successful NIN-SIM linkage programme for mobile networks. That policy, launched in December 2023, required subscribers to link their NIN—which contains biometric data—to their SIM cards in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
By the final deadline in September 2024, the NCC reported a 96% compliance rate, with over 153 million SIMs successfully verified. In August 2025, the commission followed through by purging all improperly registered SIMs from networks, demonstrating its commitment to enforcement. The Starlink directive applies this same rigorous standard to the satellite internet sector.
Some subscribers have already heeded the call. Tochukwu Nwankwu, a Lagos-based user, reported receiving an in-app notification in October and completed the update seamlessly. "It was just a panel on the app," he said, comparing it to routine update alerts.
With the deadline looming, the message from both the NCC and Starlink is unequivocal: complete your biometric registration now or risk losing your vital internet connection.
