Papua New Guinea’s telecommunications regulator has reaffirmed that Starlink satellite internet services remain prohibited, warning that enforcement action will continue until clear legal direction is provided by oversight bodies or the courts.
In a press release last week, The National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) said it was legally restrained from licensing Starlink and will not allow the importation, installation or operation of any Starlink equipment or infrastructure without formal clearance.
Speaking at a press conference, acting chief executive Polume Lume said the authority’s position is clear. “Until there is a clear directive from the Ombudsman Commission or the Supreme Court, Starlink services cannot be allowed to operate in Papua New Guinea,” he said.
NICTA said negotiations with Starlink had been close to completion when the licensing process was halted by a directive from the Ombudsman Commission in March 2024, which expressly barred the regulator from issuing a licence. The authority has since challenged that directive in court, with the case heard by the National Court in September and a decision still pending.
The regulator confirmed it instructed SpaceX, Starlink’s parent company, on 11 December 2025 to stop providing services in PNG, after which Starlink connectivity to the country was disabled. Despite this, NICTA says it has observed ongoing importation and use of Starlink terminals, warning such activity is unlawful under the National Information and Communications Technology Act 2009.
NICTA said it has received more than 160 responses from users indicating unauthorised use of the service and warned that unlicensed importation, supply, installation or operation of Starlink equipment could result in enforcement action, including prosecution. The authority noted that Starlink has indicated it does not wish to break PNG law and is willing to comply with regulatory requirements.
Public interest in Starlink remains high, with around 200 people signing a petition calling for the service to be allowed. NICTA said it is ready to license Starlink once the legal barrier is removed, but stressed that until the directive is lifted or a court ruling allows licensing to proceed, Starlink services remain strictly prohibited and enforcement will continue.
