The Kingdom of Tonga has told Starlink to stop servicing customers in the nation, as the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite broadband provider has yet to gain a licence to operate legally in the country.
An email message from Starlink seen by interest.co.nz sent to its customers in Tonga explained that the provider had been directed by the island nation's Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) to disable the service.
In the message, Starlink said it will continue to work to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals to turn on Starlink Services in Tonga as soon as possible. The SpaceX operated satellite provider also encouraged its customers to contact MEIDECC to communicate their support for Starlink to obtain the regulatory approval in Tonga.
On social media, users in Tonga said the service removal affected visiting yachts that use roaming Starlink terminals as well.
Stan 'Ahio, the MEIDECC acting director and chief engineer of the Department of Communications confirmed to interest.co.nz that the kingdom's government had told Starlink to stop the service provision in Tonga.
"We all understand the level of services provided by Starlink, but we need to do it within the laws of Tonga," 'Ahio said.
"The Ministry wishes to clarify that Starlink fixed broadband services have not yet legally gained a license to operate in the Kingdom of Tonga and Starlink is fully aware of it," he added.
"Therefore, operating a Starlink terminal is currently illegal, hence the decision and direction given to Starlink to disconnect all Starlink terminals detected to operate from the service area of the Kingdom of Tonga," 'Ahio said.
Ahio said the ministry is working on the best possible solution for Starlink's license application, which the provider filed in May this year. Starlink uses can meanwhile apply for a provisional licence, which costs $200.
Once the payment is made, the ministry will inform Starlink to reconnect customers terminals.
Following the 2022 tsunami that wrecked Tonga's only subsea optical fibre cable, Starlink donated 50 terminals and set up an Earth station in Fiji to restore internet connectivity to the island kingdom.
Restoring the severed fibre optic cable that broke after the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption, took five weeks.
Since the natural disaster in 2022, further problems have affected Tonga's cable infrastructure, including a recent quake causing a communications failure.
A petition has meanwhile been launched to allow Starlink to provide service to Tonga, with users saying high-speed Internet service is a necessity and not a luxury, and needed for economic development, education, healthcare, and disaster response and management.
11 Comments
Transparency International don't list Tonga in their index, even when Fiji, Vanuatu and others are listed.
https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2023/index/nzl
I look at NZ's #3 rating and do wonder about the accuracy: I don't think their measures cover the huge number of "cosy arrangements" that run this country and make something of a nonsense of meritocracy.
I've spent more than a decade working in and with the governments and businesses of the islands, Tonga is by far the worst to deal with. Their king / royalty expects a cut on every deal, everyone protects their own, and in this case, I guarantee Wantok and Digicel Tonga would have had a word about this newcomer and ofcourse had it immediately stopped.
Tonga is a great place to sink aid money and for diplomats to enjoy a laid back posting and proving ground in prep for the bigger cities. Other than that, it's best to stay away for your own sanity.
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