Accra – The Ghana National Communication Authority (NCA) has issued a warning to Ghanaians not to use Starlink’s equipment or services and has instructed everyone participating in sales or service operations to cease operations immediately, reports broadcastmediaafrica.com.
NCA said that the satellite Internet service did not obtain a licence or type-approve its equipment before beginning operations and declared the sale of Starlink equipment and its operations illegal.
Per Section 3(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2008, Act 775 stipulates 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, any entity that offers electronic communication in Ghana without licence or authorisation from the Authority is said to have directly violated this act.”
In 2019, the satellite Internet service managed by SpaceX — an American aerospace company — started launching and has since expanded to about 5,420 as of November 8, 2023.
While the cost of the broadband service is high, it can improve Internet access and offer simple connectivity in rural areas.
The service is available in several African countries, such as Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Mozambique, and Malawi. Nonetheless, it’s struggling to establish its presence in some African countries.
Comparable to the telco regulator in Ghana, the Electronic Communications Act in South Africa prohibits providing electronic communications and broadcasting services without the required service and radio frequency spectrum licences.
The Act stipulates severe penalties, including fines of US$265,000 or 10 per cent of annual turnover for offenders continuing such activities.
Moreover, its operations in Zimbabwe face similar challenges.
In September 2023, Zimbabwe said it received Starlink’s application for an operating licence, and the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) was reviewing it.
But in November 2023, the ICT regulator said that Starlink had yet to apply.
*This article first appeared at: Ghana: Regulator Declares Starlink Illegal And Warns Against Using It – Broadcast Media Africa (BMA)
