Starlink to return to Papua New Guinea after court overturns ban

Papua New Guinea's National Court has delivered a significant victory for connectivity by quashing the ban on Starlink. This decision comes at a crucial time, particularly in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Maila, which starkly illustrated the nation's vulnerability due to inadequate telecommunications infrastructure in its vast and often inaccessible regions.

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Our recent disaster experience has shown us clearly that communication is no longer a luxury-it is a necessity.

The Ombudsman Commission's earlier directive to cease Starlink's services, enforced by the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), had threatened to leave many remote communities isolated. However, the court's ruling now paves the way for NICTA to finalize Starlink's operating license, a move widely welcomed by those who understand the challenges of providing services across PNG's challenging geography.

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When communities are cut off during cyclones, floods, earthquakes, or other emergencies, lives can depend on real-time communication. We must ensure our people are never isolated in times of crisis.

Prime Minister James Marape rightly articulated that in the face of natural disasters like cyclones, floods, and earthquakes, real-time communication is not merely a convenience but a life-saving necessity. The recent cyclone underscored this point, as traditional communication methods like VHF radio failed, leaving broadband internet services as a vital lifeline for some. Starlink's low-orbit satellite technology offers a potential solution to bridge these connectivity gaps where terrestrial infrastructure is non-existent or easily damaged.

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As we have seen in the past month with Cyclone Malia causing havoc on all coastal hamlets, if we had Starlink in strategic areas in the remote parts of Papua New Guinea we could have planned a much quicker and better response.

Local leaders, such as Jelta Wong, MP for Gazelle Open, and Governor Allan Bird of East Sepik Province, have strongly advocated for Starlink's presence. They highlight the immense logistical and financial difficulties in reaching remote communities. Bird's comparison of his province's size to Fiji and his description of the potential for telemedicine—connecting a doctor in the provincial capital to a remote delivery site—underscore how Starlink could be a game-changer for essential services in a country where the doctor-to-patient ratio is alarmingly high. This technology promises to overcome geographical barriers, making services more accessible and improving the quality of life for many Papua New Guineans.

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You see, my province is bigger than than Fiji. So getting access to rural communities is extremely expensive, extremely difficult. With something like Starlink, we can have things like tele medicals.