The SpaceX satcoms service Starlink is now live across the more than 300 islands in the Republic of Fiji, marking, the company says, the 99th country, territory or market around the world where Starlink’s high-speed internet service is available.
Starlink was granted a license to provide internet services in Fiji, a country of some 936,375 people, in mid-November 2023. The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) welcomed the news that the LEO satellite operator had acquired licences to operate in Fiji, saying it will boost competition and make the digital economy more inclusive.
Indeed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, SMEs, and Communications, Manoa Kamikamica has been widely quoted as saying that the licensing of Starlink for commercial use is a ‘game-changer’ for Fiji, strengthening the country’s resilience in providing connectivity during natural disasters
The arrival of Starlink also supports the Fiji government’s efforts to connect the unconnected population in maritime communities without significant upfront capital costs incurred.
Starlink says the services align with the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission’s goal of implementing a competitive, fair and dynamic market for internet services in Fiji.
This news underlines the relevance of satcoms to archipelagos where regular fixed connectivity can be an issue. We reported earlier today on Starlink’s arrival in Indonesia, a country of over of over 17,000 islands and 277 million inhabitants. Starlink arrived in the Philippines, which is made up of more than 7,600 islands, many of which are isolated and with mountainous terrain, in 2022.