COURT RULED OC DECISION TO HALT STARLINK NULL & VOID

BY BENJAMIN KOITAKA

THE National Court in Waigani, this afternoon has upheld the judicial review of the National Information & Communication Technology Authority’s (NICTA) and squashed Ombudsman Commission submissions and directive to invalidate Starlink’s operating licence in the country.

In a 24-pages Court decision, Judge justice Oagile Dingake, handed down the decision this afternoon, on behalf of presiding judge Susan Purdon-Sully, stating that Ombudsman Commission’s Directives to halt Starlink’s operating licence was null and void.

The Ombudsman Commission’s Direction to NICTA, on the date 24th of February 2024 to revoke Starlink’s operating licence has also been squashed by the National Court.

Meanwhile, the Court ordered defendant Ombudsman Commission to settle the legal bills.

The plaintiff includes Timothy Maisu, the Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Kila-Gulo Vui (CEO NICTA), Noel Mobiha ( Chairman NICTA), Panny Yokope ( Director Licensing & Enforcement _NICTA) and National Information and Communications Technology Authority (Nicta).