19/12/2025
The National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA)
has come out to clarify why there has been a delay in issuing a license to Starlink despite the former Minister of ICT, Timothy Masiu, making a statement earlier inviting Starlink to PNG.
NICTA Chairman Brian Riches and Acting CEO Lume Polume clarified the situation in a press conference yesterday, addressing misinformation and outlining the regulatory standoff that's left users in the dark.
The regulator (NICTA) formally instructed SpaceX, parent company of Starlink Internet Services PNG Limited, on December 11 to cease all satellite internet services under the National Information and Communications Technology Act 2009.
Starlink currently holds no valid license, yet NICTA observed widespread importation, supply, installation, and use of terminals across the country in recent months.
Any person or entity engaging in these activities is in breach of the law and may be subject to enforcement action, including prosecution.
The delay stems from a March 2024 directive by the Ombudsman Commission, which prohibited NICTA from approving Starlink even after negotiations reached an advanced stage. NICTA has challenged this in court. The National Court heard arguments on September 5, 2025, with a decision still pending.
Until the Ombudsman lifts its order or the court rules in favor, NICTA remains legally bound, despite its readiness to license the service. Riches and Lume stressed the authority's support for "innovative, reliable, and affordable connectivity" within legal bounds.
SpaceX complied by disabling services nationwide on December 16, prompting user backlash including an online petition and over 160 direct responses to NICTA, highlighting illegal usage scale.
This comes amid PNG's connectivity crunch in rugged terrain, where Starlink promised game-changing access for businesses and remote communities.