Minister for Communication and Digitalization Hon.Ursula Ekuffo Owusu has assured Ghanaians that the government will finally license Starlink to operate in Ghana, given the internet disruption Ghanaians have faced in the past few days.
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by American aerospace company SpaceX, providing coverage to over 70 countries. It also aims to provide global mobile broadband after 2023.
SpaceX started launching Starlink satellites in 2019. As of early January 2024, it comprises over 5,289 mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO that communicate with designated ground transceivers.
In December 2023 the National Communications Authority (NCA) in Ghana warned the public against using services from Starlink, stating that the NCA has not licensed Starlink’s operations in Ghana nor has approved any of their equipment.
SpaceX, which is expected to launch Starlink commercially in Ghana in the third quarter of 2024, already covers the country and others that have not yet permitted its services.
However, due to the network disruption government has decided to grant them the license to operate in Ghana.
Briefing parliament on the issue of internet disruption the Minister for Communications and Digitalization Ursula Owusu indicated to parliament that the government is rolling out a program to license additional satellite internet service providers to deal with the disruption to internet services in the country.
She indicated that global satellite internet service provider Starlink is in the process of being licensed to operate in Ghana.
“Starlink is in the process of being licensed. And other operators are being encouraged to land in Ghana. We must also invest in operationalizing RASCOM( Regional African Satellite Company) instead of each country going at it alone.
“All network operators must arrange and implement alternate routes to restore phone services as they’re currently doing” She disclosed this to Parliament on Monday 18th March 2024.
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