Page 15 - IB August 2024

Communications Communications

Starlink licence imminent in Tonga
Meanwhile in Tonga, work on submarine cables damaged
during an earthquake in June has been delayed after a special
repair vessel broke down in Fiji.
Nearly a third of Tonga’s population is almost entirely
without internet service on the islands of Ha’apai and Vava’u,
months after an earthquake apparently broke the only cable
servicing Tonga.
The prolonged outage has promoted renewed calls for a
path to be opened for Starlink to operate in the Kingdom.
In July, the Tongan government granted a provisional
temporary permit to Starlink to operate for a six-month
period.
The service was previously available in Tonga after the
Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai volcanic eruption and subsequent
tsunami when Starlink owner, Elon Musk donated 50 kits for Farming operation in Seaqaqa supported by Starlink. Photo: Lightspeed Pacific
use in the Kingdom.
Some local businesses are already using the service. Ha'apai communications.
resort owner, Darren Rice, who is totally reliant on the Submarine cables are vulnerable to both natural and man-
satellite service, told local media: “When Starlink goes off, made threats. The region has seen both; from the damage
without the internet we can't call for help, we don't know wrought on Tonga’s telecommunication links due to the
when storms are coming, we don't know if there is a tsunami Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai volcanic activities, to accidental
warning, we can't call the hospital or the fire engine.” damage from shipping activities.
Prime Minister Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni now says: But this damage could also be wrought intentionally, while
“We are looking at fast-tracking actions to get a licence to cable routes and landing points are already contested.
Starlink. Whether they want to partner with Digicel or TCC, or Suggested solutions include elevating submarine cable
just to operate on their own.” security in national and regional security strategies, updating
He continued: “How fast Starlink can get their license and enforcing international laws, regional collaboration
very much depends on Starlink itself,” and that the company through joint patrols, shared surveillance systems and
needed to complete the requirements needed by the response strategies, and improvements in monitoring,
regulator regarding local investments. surveillance and cable sheathing technology.
In the meantime, a petition to allow access to Starlink in Tuvalu, which is currently dependent entirely on satellite
Tonga, started on July 10, has attracted over 1000 signatures. technology, will get its first subsea cable connection next
year. Prime Minister Feleti Teo says he is concerned about
The new geopolitical battleground? cybersecurity, telling Nikkei Asia that he is "mindful of the
While submarine cables have emerged as a site of exposure ... in terms of cybersecurity and risk."
geopolitical contestation in recent years, some analysts
have also speculated that this may extend to satellite - Additional reporting from Kalafi Moala in Tonga

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