Papua New Guinea's Internet Shutdown Sparks Widespread Anger and Desperation
In a move that has left many Papua New Guineans feeling isolated, frustrated, and desperate for access to the internet, Starlink – a satellite internet company owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX – was ordered to shut down operations in mid-December. The National Information and Communications Technology Authority (Nicta) claimed that Starlink had not obtained the necessary license to operate in the country.
The shutdown has been met with widespread anger from individuals, businesses, health providers, and communities who rely on the internet for various purposes such as remote work, healthcare services, education, and economic transactions. With no official figures available, it's estimated that thousands of people, including entire villages or districts in rural areas, were previously served by Starlink.
The shutdown has disrupted the lives of many Papua New Guineans who relied on the internet for access to essential services, communication, and information. Health workers and teachers are struggling to maintain their work due to the lack of internet connectivity. Businesses have also been severely affected as they rely on Starlink to reach customers, process payments, and access banking services.
The shutdown has sparked protests and petitions from concerned citizens, with over 200 people signing an online petition calling for Starlink to be allowed to operate legally. Local business leaders are also speaking out against the government's decision, citing the negative impact on the economy and small businesses.
Critics argue that the shutdown ignored the struggles of ordinary Papua New Guineans who rely heavily on internet services. The country's communication minister declined to comment on the issue, fueling speculation about the motivations behind the decision.
Papua New Guinea has faced similar licensing issues with Starlink in the past, including a shutdown in Tonga in 2024 due to non-compliance with local regulations. This experience highlights the challenges of navigating complex regulatory frameworks and the importance of addressing concerns from stakeholders who rely on internet services.
As tensions rise, it remains unclear when or if Starlink will be granted permission to operate legally in Papua New Guinea. The shutdown serves as a stark reminder of the country's limited access to reliable internet services and the urgent need for policy changes that prioritize the needs of its citizens.
In a move that has left many Papua New Guineans feeling isolated, frustrated, and desperate for access to the internet, Starlink – a satellite internet company owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX – was ordered to shut down operations in mid-December. The National Information and Communications Technology Authority (Nicta) claimed that Starlink had not obtained the necessary license to operate in the country.
The shutdown has been met with widespread anger from individuals, businesses, health providers, and communities who rely on the internet for various purposes such as remote work, healthcare services, education, and economic transactions. With no official figures available, it's estimated that thousands of people, including entire villages or districts in rural areas, were previously served by Starlink.
The shutdown has disrupted the lives of many Papua New Guineans who relied on the internet for access to essential services, communication, and information. Health workers and teachers are struggling to maintain their work due to the lack of internet connectivity. Businesses have also been severely affected as they rely on Starlink to reach customers, process payments, and access banking services.
The shutdown has sparked protests and petitions from concerned citizens, with over 200 people signing an online petition calling for Starlink to be allowed to operate legally. Local business leaders are also speaking out against the government's decision, citing the negative impact on the economy and small businesses.
Critics argue that the shutdown ignored the struggles of ordinary Papua New Guineans who rely heavily on internet services. The country's communication minister declined to comment on the issue, fueling speculation about the motivations behind the decision.
Papua New Guinea has faced similar licensing issues with Starlink in the past, including a shutdown in Tonga in 2024 due to non-compliance with local regulations. This experience highlights the challenges of navigating complex regulatory frameworks and the importance of addressing concerns from stakeholders who rely on internet services.
As tensions rise, it remains unclear when or if Starlink will be granted permission to operate legally in Papua New Guinea. The shutdown serves as a stark reminder of the country's limited access to reliable internet services and the urgent need for policy changes that prioritize the needs of its citizens.
This is exactly what happens when you don't have a solid plan in place! I mean, can't they see that Starlink was already providing essential services to rural areas? It's not like they were just messing around, offering internet to anyone who wanted it. And now, because of a little technicality, thousands of people are without access to the internet... 
That's just terrible. I mean, what about all those healthcare workers and teachers struggling to get their work done? Don't they matter? It's like, hello! We need to find a way to make this work for everyone, not just sit around and let people suffer because of bureaucratic red tape.
And yeah, sure, maybe Starlink didn't follow all the rules... but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed to operate in the first place. It's like, prioritize people over policies, you know?
what's the real reason behind this shutdown? 
they're just making excuses now after Starlink has been operational in PNG for years without any major issues... I mean, how do you shut down a whole satellite internet network in 1 day? Sounds like a bunch of bureaucratic red tape to me 
... small businesses r getting affected badly too 
... I feel bad for health workers & teachers who can't do their job properly without internet connectivity 
... government's decision is kinda harsh, i think they should just sort out the licensing issue instead of shutting everything down 
this is insane... they're basically saying stop using our only internet option, like what even is the plan here? 
rural villages are stuck without basic connectivity, businesses are getting destroyed, and people's lives are being disrupted. it's not just about Starlink, it's about the entire country's infrastructure being outdated and unprepared for demand. 
the shut down is like, super frustrating 
papua new guineaans got no choice but to use mobile networks which r super slow 
. starlink brought some hope for rural areas but now it's all being taken away 
. government needs to sort this out ASAP 
and make sure ppl can access the internet without fear of shutdown 
...or at least explain why they're doing it 
oh man this is crazy they're shutting down Starlink 
which has like the whole country in a panic 
it's like a digital blackout 
️ and no one knows what's going on 
or what? 
the government just keeps mum 
meanwhile businesses are losing money 
when will they learn to prioritize internet access for all 
Starlink was literally trying to bring some life 2 these rural areas but it got shut down 4 no reason 
the gov needs 2 step up their game & get some policies in place 2 help out these ppl 
. And now the government's trying to sweep this under the rug, declining to comment on the issue 
? Come on, transparency would be good here. I'm all for proper regulation, but this feels like a case of "let them do it if we don't have to"