The Sri Lankan government will vote this week to change a law that will pave the way for SpaceX’s Starlink satellite connectivity service to deploy on the island, reported ET Telecom.
Parliament is voting to introduce a new licence category under a refreshed telecommunications bill, that will allow Starlink to enter Sri Lanka as a licensed provider, said state minister of technology Kanaka Herath. The minister noted this will be the first time in 28 years since the Telecommunications Act will be amended.
He added the change in law will enable the issuing of three new types of telecoms licenses, one of which “will allow Starlink to have a license to provide internet connectivity."
The Elon Musk-owned company approached the Sri Lankan government to deploy operations on the island in March and preliminary approval was given in June.
"There are lots of challenges to constructing telecom towers but Starlink can increase internet access faster, particularly in rural areas and support economic growth,” said Herath.
