Nationwide Internet Cut Sparks Public Backlash
Papua New Guinea is facing growing anger and frustration after the government ordered SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service to halt operations across the country, depriving thousands of users — especially in remote areas — of reliable connectivity. The decision, made in mid-December 2025, stems from what authorities say is a lack of proper licensing for the service to operate legally within PNG.
Residents, businesses, health workers and educators have spoken out about the sudden loss of access, describing it as a blow to economic activity, essential services and social inclusion in a country where internet infrastructure is already uneven and often prohibitively expensive.
Government Says Starlink Lacks Legal Authorization
The National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) — the government body responsible for regulating telecoms in PNG — has been at the centre of the controversy. NICTA’s acting chief executive, Lume Polume, reiterated that Starlink was not licensed to provide service in Papua New Guinea, and that authorities would not allow the network to continue operating until the legal process for approval is completed.
According to NICTA’s public notices, the importation and use of Starlink terminal equipment remains prohibited indefinitely without regulatory approval, and enforcement actions against illegal use of the service have been ongoing since late 2025.
Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but emailed customers expressing a desire to resume service “once approvals are granted.”
Connectivity Loss Hits Everyday Life and Services Hard
The shutdown has had immediate and tangible effects on people’s daily lives across Papua New Guinea — a country with challenging terrain, limited mobile coverage and high costs for traditional internet access.
Rural clinics that once used Starlink to communicate with doctors and send vital health reports now face delays of days or must send staff on long trips to reach town connectivity. A health worker in East Sepik province warned that such delays could be dangerous for patients needing urgent care.
In education, teachers in remote parts of the Southern Highlands say that students now lack reliable means to check university entry results or access online learning resources — tools that were becoming increasingly essential.
Small businesses and agricultural traders have also reported disruptions, with some forced to travel long distances into urban centres simply to process payments or conduct banking transactions that were previously done online.
Public Reaction: Petition and Political Pressure
Frustration has spilled into public protests online and in communities. A petition circulating on social media calling for Starlink to be allowed to operate legally has collected around 200 signatures, a modest but vocal show of opposition that highlights a broader discontent with internet access policies.
Business leaders have also criticised the government’s stance. John Simon, a businessman and former MP for Maprik, described the shutdown as overlooking “the struggles of ordinary people and small businesses,” arguing that Starlink offered one of the few affordable and reliable internet options in the country.
Meanwhile, officials from PNG’s communications ministry have declined to comment publicly on the matter, adding to perceptions that the shutdown was imposed without adequate consultation or transparent reasoning.
Licensing Dispute Has Dragged On for Years
The conflict between Starlink and PNG authorities has roots going back more than a year. Starlink has reportedly sought a licence since December 2023, but regulatory processes and legal challenges — including a referee decision in March 2024 that blocked approval over concerns about reliability and compliance — have prevented formal authorisation.
As of early 2026, NICTA continues to await guidance from the ombudsman or the courts on whether to grant a licence, but no timetable for a decision has been provided, leaving the future of satellite internet in PNG uncertain.
Satellite Internet’s Role in Remote Communities
Experts say that satellite services like Starlink have become critical in countries with sparse traditional internet infrastructure. In PNG’s mountainous and forested interior, where building fibre or even mobile towers is extremely costly, satellite connectivity offered villagers, clinics and schools a link to banking, healthcare, education and commerce that was previously impossible or prohibitively pricey.
With Starlink offline, alternatives exist — including other satellite services — but these often come with higher costs, slower speeds and more limited coverage, intensifying the digital divide between urban and rural areas.
Regional Context: Telecom Policy and Internet Access
Papua New Guinea is not the only Pacific nation grappling with how to integrate new satellite internet technologies into national frameworks. In recent years, other regulators in the region have also moved to deactivate or restrict Starlink roaming services where operations weren’t formally licensed, reflecting broader questions about technology adoption, regulation and sovereignty.
For PNG — a country with millions of people still unconnected or only intermittently connected — the debate over Starlink’s role is now tied to issues of economic opportunity, public service delivery and even social cohesion.
Looking Ahead: Legal Battle and Public Demand
As Papua New Guinea waits on legal decisions and regulatory outcomes, pressure is building on policymakers to find a way to balance control and oversight with the urgent connectivity needs of communities. Whether Starlink will be granted a licence and return to service remains unclear — but for many Papua New Guineans the episode has underscored how essential internet access is to social and economic life in the 21st century.
