The National Communications Authority (NCA) has announced it has approved the application of Space X Starlink GH LTD, operators of Starlink Satellite Broadband, to offer Satellite Broadband Services in Ghana. 

The NCA last December cautioned the public against what it said was the alleged illegal sale of Starlink equipment and its operations in Ghana as it had neither licensed the operations of Starlink in Ghana nor type-approved any of their equipment, a violation of Section 3(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2008, Act 775.

It further cautioned the public to desist from patronising any equipment or service purported to be from Starlink.

But following an internet outage last month that hit many west africa countries hard, the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, announced the government’s plan to license Starlink’s operations in Ghana as part of the government’s efforts to address the internet disruption in the country.

“We have licensed satellite gateway air stations, landing rights, and satellite air station networks. One web has already been licensed. Starlink is in the process of being licensed and other operators are being encouraged to land in Ghana.”, She told Ghana’s Parliament on March 18 when she updated the legislative house on the issue of internet disruptions.

But announcing the approval, the NCA says the approval follows the policy approval of the Satellite Licensing Framework in Ghana by the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation.

The application approval is a pivotal step as administrative steps towards the issuance of a licence and is expected to be completed shortly.