The National Court has overturned a directive from the Ombudsman Commission that blocked Starlink Internet Services from operating in the country.
National Court Judge Oagile Dingkake delivered on behalf of Justice Purdon-Sully at the Waigani Court Complex today.
The case began in February 2024 when the Ombudsman Commission issued a “Direction” to the Minister for ICT and officials at the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA).
The Commission ordered them to stop the licensing process for Starlink, claiming it needed to investigate whether proper procedures were followed.
However, Justice Purdon-Sully ruled that the Ombudsman Commission exceeded its authority. The court found that the Commission’s power to give directions under the Constitution must be used specifically to address leadership misconduct, not to interfere with the administrative regulatory functions of agencies like NICTA.
The judge declared the Ombudsman’s order “null and void” and officially quashed the directive. This decision clears a major legal hurdle for Starlink, ensuring that regulatory bodies can perform their statutory duties without unauthorized interference.
