The National Communications Authority (NCA), the regulator of the country’s data and communication service providers has announced its approval for the licensing operations for Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite data service by the end of August 2024.
This move has been embraced largely by Ghanaians especially key stakeholders in the data and technology sector citing the initiative as an avenue for stiffer competition among local internet service broadband networks.
Commenting on the issue with The High Street Journal is Maximus Ametorgoh a technology analyst, who made emphasis on the fact that the country went into a trance of internet cut for a period some few months ago as a result of undersea fiber cuts which cost users a lot. He noted that if Ghana had a satellite internet service provider at the time many users would be saved.
“When the undersea cable incident happened, this was another option that people resorted to because of course everything is in space before you connect it locally, for me I think this good news,” he noted.
The dealbreaker for Starlink is to breed competition. Mr. Ametorgoh emphasized that local telecom networks need to tighten their boots to avoid a gradual takeover, stressing the fact that Ghanaians are prone to quality and affordable services.
“If you don’t expand your network they will “eat up” your customers because the satellite is everywhere so every inch of Ghana is now covered when they deploy fully because they are using satellite unlike the fiber that will have to be planted based on location or market value, but the satellite can assess everywhere even in the bush”.
Although the initial cost of set up could hover around $600 (GHC 9378), while the monthly subscription cost could run up to $20 (GHC 312.60), Mr. Ametorgoh is optimistic that the price will take a nose-dive gradually as they enroll the service for the Ghanaian market.
