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Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister of Communications and Digitalization, announced that the government will expedite the licensing process for satellite companies to serve as substitutes for mobile network carriers in case of service disruptions.
Since Thursday, March 14, many Ghanaians have experienced internet connectivity issues due to outages in Mobile Network Operations (MNOs).
In her update to Parliament on Monday in Accra, Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful disclosed this strategy, emphasizing that while satellite bandwidth could act as an alternative, it cannot fully compensate for the lost capacity caused by the outage. However, she noted that satellite backup for consumers is a more viable option, albeit at a higher cost compared to terrestrial solutions.
The government’s immediate action plan includes licensing satellite gateway air stations, securing landing rights, and establishing a satellite air station network. OneWeb has already obtained a license, while Starlink is in the licensing process. Other operators are also encouraged to establish operations in Ghana, with an emphasis on leveraging RASCOM, the regional African satellite company, instead of individual countries pursuing separate endeavors.
Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful stressed the need for network operators to implement alternative routes to restore full services, echoing ongoing efforts. Additionally, organizations and enterprises are urged to diversify their hosting locations by utilizing at least two tier 3 or 4 data centers in different areas. She highlighted the importance of leveraging the National Data Center for backup disaster recovery options, particularly for public organizations.
Regarding Starlink, the Minister declared its operations illegal, citing a strong warning issued by the National Communications Authority (NCA) in December of the previous year. The NCA clarified that Starlink lacked the necessary licensing and authorization to provide or sell its internet services domestically.
Source:Omanghana.com
