Sri Lanka has granted preliminary approval to Elon Musk’s Starlink, a satellite division of SpaceX, to offer internet services in the country, according to a statement from the president’s office on Thursday. The approval process was expedited following Musk’s meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe last month in Indonesia during the 10th World Water Forum. After holding a public consultation, Sri Lanka’s telecommunications regulator approved the preliminary licence. The discussions between Musk and Wickremesinghe focused on enhancing internet connectivity in rural areas of Sri Lanka and exploring potential collaborations in renewable energy, as per the president’s office.
In Fiji, Starlink’s introduction has been transformative, especially for remote, maritime, and underserved communities, offering them reliable, high-speed internet. This deployment aligns with Fiji’s goals to improve connectivity across its many islands, which is crucial for inclusion in the digital economy and for maintaining communications during natural disasters.
The licensing and implementation of Starlink services in Fiji were expedited due to the significant benefits expected from this high-tech satellite internet service. Starlink’s operations in Fiji, which span across its over 300 islands, marked its entry into the 99th global market, underscoring its rapid expansion and the strategic importance of internet connectivity in isolated regions.
The service has been welcomed by local officials and is seen as a key step towards achieving greater economic diversification and building resilience against natural disasters. It’s also anticipated to support educational and health services by improving access to online resources, which is vital for development in rural and maritime regions of Fiji.
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation being constructed by SpaceX, the space exploration company founded by Elon Musk. It aims to provide high-speed, low-latency internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable. The constellation is made up of thousands of small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), which work in combination with ground transceivers.
Starlink’s satellites orbit much closer to the Earth than traditional communication satellites, which reduces latency and can improve internet speeds. This technology is particularly beneficial for remote and rural areas where terrestrial internet infrastructure is not feasible or cost-effective. The service is also intended to provide internet access to planes, ships, and vehicles.
With Inputs from Reuters
