Starlink will soon be granted operational license in Ghana — Ursula Owusu

The government of Ghana is set to grant SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service an operational license to begin providing internet connectivity in the country.

This was announced by Communications Minister Ursula Owusu Ekuful during a briefing to parliament on recent disruptions to internet services on Monday, March 18.

Ghana has experienced internet outages since last Thursday due to damage to several undersea cables that carry international internet traffic to the country.

With repairs to the cables expected to take at least five weeks to complete, the minister said government is moving to approve additional satellite internet providers to help address the disruption in service.

"Starlink is in the process of being licensed," Minister Owusu told members of parliament.

“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,” added Ursula Owusu.

Many argue that granting Starlink approval to operate commercially in Ghana would be a major boost for internet access.

The company has low Earth orbit satellites that offer speeds competitive to cable and fibre with coverage across the entire country, including remote and rural areas not served by traditional providers.