The Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has revealed the government’s intention to license satellite internet provider Starlink to operate in Ghana.
She said this was part of the government’s efforts to address the internet disruption in the country.
Mobile telecommunications and internet data consumers have suffered a blackout since Thursday, March 14, prompting Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other stakeholders to look for alternative backups.
Briefing Parliament on the issue on March 18, she said, “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.
“We must also invest in operationalizing RASCOM, the Regional African Satellite Company, instead of each country going alone.”
She advised organisations to take cues from these internet disruptions and store their content, databases, applications, and services in at least two tier-three or tier-four data centres in the country, located at different locations.
Additionally, she recommended using the National Data Center as their primary or backup recovery data host.
In December 2023, the ministry cautioned the public to desist from purchasing items from Starlink since it was not licensed in Ghana.
The notice said, “Any entity which provides electronic communication services in Ghana without a Licence or Authorisation from the NCA is in direct violation of Section 3(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2008, Act 775 which states that, ‘Except as otherwise provided under this Act a person shall not operate a public electronic communications service or network or provide a voice telephony service without a licence granted by the Authority’.
The minister said the NCA did not have the framework for licensing satellites. However, over the years, it has equipped itself with the requisite knowledge to license these satellites.
“The NCA did not have a framework for licensing satellites, but the Authority has, in the last year, concluded bench-marking and learned from other jurisdictions where this has been implemented. Currently, they have developed a satellite licensing framework in Ghana, which has been approved by its board and is awaiting final policy approval.
“This framework will provide the policies and rules relating to the application for frequency authorizations for satellite services in Ghana. It outlines the various categories of satellite services, the licensing requirements, and their associated fees,” she added.
In this light, Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful assured that the ministry had performed due diligence and was ready to offer an operating license to the company to help improve internet access.
“A draft framework was subjected to industry consultation and approved by industry. The objective of the framework is to provide increased regulatory oversight for the services, more connectivity solutions or options for consumers, and other measures,” she added.
She, however, noted that the service offered by Starlink was expensive. She thus assured that there were plans to engage other sector players to cater to individuals across different economic streams.