LEO satellite operator Starlink has received a temporary permit to operate in Tonga in an apparent retreat by the government who had earlier banned the service outright as residents sought to cope with last month’s subsea cable outage.
The temporary permit – which is valid for six months – allows Starlink to sell services directly to consumers, as well as via a reseller arrangement with existing local operators. The permit also comes with several conditions – Starlink must comply with all tax regulations, provide details of its terminals, and facilitate local payment methods for businesses in Tonga.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change (MEIDECC) said the permit is a stopgap to address immediate connectivity problems in the outer islands while Starlink’s formal application is being processed.
Telephone and internet services on the islands of Vava'u and Ha’apai have been disrupted since June 29 following an early morning earthquake that damaged the Tonga Domestic Cable Extension (TDCE). Depending on the extent of the damage, the cable isn’t expected to be repaired until at least the end of this month. Local telcos Tonga Communication Corporation (TCC) and Digicel Tonga activated backup satellite connectivity for both islands, but the capacity is a fraction of what the TDCE provides.
Well before the TDCE went down, some Tonga residents with poor or non-existent internet service had been purchasing Starlink subscriptions overseas and using its roaming feature to access the service in Tonga. The government declared in May that importation of Starlink gear is illegal until its licence is approved. When Vava'u and Ha’apai residents resorted to Starlink after June 29, the MEIDECC ordered the satellite operator on July 9 to disable its services in Tonga. According to Tonga Wires, Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni scolded Starlink users, saying, “the law cannot be put aside just because you have slow internet.”
In an apparent change of heart, MEIDECC CEO Sione ‘Aka’oula said the temporary permit would allow residents in Vava'u and Ha’apai to use the service legally.
“The issuance of this permit aims to address public concerns while ensuring that operations are conducted in accordance with regulatory requirements, resorting to the connectivity outages in the outer islands, while the application for a full licence is finalising,” he said.
The Tonga government has been deliberating on Starlink’s licence application since it was submitted in May, with one point of contention being the impact of Starlink on existing network operators.
In a sign that Starlink’s application may eventually be approved, the MEIDECC statement on Friday said that the government “commends the Starlink team for a fruitful and collaborate approach during the evaluation process and wishes Starlink Pacific Islands LLC the best in building a business that continues to benefit all citizens and residents of Tonga.”
