Following news that Starlink had to shut down operations in the Kingdom of Tonga, The Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change, Communications and CERT (MEIDECC) has now granted a provisional temporary permit to the company to operate in the country for the next six months.

Published 2 months ago

Source:  Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change, Communications and CERT (MEIDECC) Nukuálofa, Tonga – 19th July 2024

Starlink Temporary Permit for Next 6 Months

Following news that Starlink had to shut down operations in the Kingdom of Tonga, The Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change, Communications and CERT (MEIDECC), under the authority of the Minister responsible for Communications, has announced the granting of a provisional temporary permit to Starlink by declaration to operate in the Kingdom of Tonga, through Section 29 of the Communication Act 2015 CAP (15.01).

Mr. Sione Pulotu ‘Akau’ola, Chief Executive Officer for MEIDECC, reports:

“The temporary permit issued to Starlink includes several conditions aimed at ensuring compliance with government regulations and aiding to the disruption of domestic cable to Vava’u and Ha’apai Island.  Among these conditions are:

1. Duration: The license granted to Starlink is valid for a period of 6 months.
2. Tax Obligations: Starlink must fulfill all regulated tax obligations set forth by the government.
3. Data Order Compliance: Starlink is required to provide details of the terminals as mandated by regulations.
4. Sales and Reseller Model: Starlink is permitted to sell directly to the public while also considering a reseller model in collaboration with all of the existing local operators.
5. Local Payment Methods: Starlink is expected to facilitate local payment methods for businesses in Tonga.

“This temporary permit follows recent events where the government instructed Starlink to cease its services in Tonga, due to illegal use of satellite terminals and disruptions caused by the undersea fibre cable outage to Vava’u and Ha’apai Islands since June 29th.

“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 outerislands, while the application for a full license is finalising.

“The Government of Tonga 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.”

For further inquiries or information, please contact:-

Mr. Stan Ahio

• Acting Director and Chief Engineer, Department of Communications,
• Email: sahio@mic.gov.to,
• Telephone – Office: +676 20 131

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