Papua New Guinea is reeling under the pain of losing access to internet services as the government ordered Starlink, a satellite internet company owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, to shut down its operations in the country. Weeks after the order was issued, frustration has been growing among businesses, health providers, and communities who are struggling without access to reliable online services.
The shutdown, ordered by the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (Nicta), claimed that Starlink was not licensed in PNG. Nicta's acting chief executive, Lume Pvolume, stated that until the legal process is completed, services cannot be allowed. However, no timeline has been provided for when a directive will be issued.
The impact of the shutdown has been felt harshly by many, with thousands of people relying on Starlink in remote areas where mobile networks are unreliable or non-existent. Businessman and former Maprik MP John Simon argued that the shutdown ignored the struggles of ordinary people and small businesses in PNG.
"This is really bad for this country," he said. "Internet and online services have been very expensive and slow for years, yet we cannot listen to the little people out on the street and sort this out."
The shutdown has disrupted the work of health workers and teachers who relied heavily on Starlink for communication with doctors in town and sending reports quickly. Theresa Juni, a health worker from East Sepik province, said that without Starlink, her clinic was facing delays in treating patients who needed urgent care.
For students, the loss of internet access has also been devastating. Simon Jack, a teacher at a high school in Southern Highlands province, said that the shutdown was making life hard for his students who needed to check their results and see where they had been selected to study this year.
As Starlink faces another licensing issue in PNG, it is clear that many ordinary people are feeling the pain of losing access to reliable online services. With thousands of people reliant on the service, the government's decision has left a trail of frustration and hardship across the country.
Meanwhile, an online petition signed by 200 people is calling for Starlink to be allowed to operate legally in PNG. As the standoff continues, one thing is certain - Papua New Guinea's internet users are not about to let this issue fade away without a fight.
The shutdown, ordered by the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (Nicta), claimed that Starlink was not licensed in PNG. Nicta's acting chief executive, Lume Pvolume, stated that until the legal process is completed, services cannot be allowed. However, no timeline has been provided for when a directive will be issued.
The impact of the shutdown has been felt harshly by many, with thousands of people relying on Starlink in remote areas where mobile networks are unreliable or non-existent. Businessman and former Maprik MP John Simon argued that the shutdown ignored the struggles of ordinary people and small businesses in PNG.
"This is really bad for this country," he said. "Internet and online services have been very expensive and slow for years, yet we cannot listen to the little people out on the street and sort this out."
The shutdown has disrupted the work of health workers and teachers who relied heavily on Starlink for communication with doctors in town and sending reports quickly. Theresa Juni, a health worker from East Sepik province, said that without Starlink, her clinic was facing delays in treating patients who needed urgent care.
For students, the loss of internet access has also been devastating. Simon Jack, a teacher at a high school in Southern Highlands province, said that the shutdown was making life hard for his students who needed to check their results and see where they had been selected to study this year.
As Starlink faces another licensing issue in PNG, it is clear that many ordinary people are feeling the pain of losing access to reliable online services. With thousands of people reliant on the service, the government's decision has left a trail of frustration and hardship across the country.
Meanwhile, an online petition signed by 200 people is calling for Starlink to be allowed to operate legally in PNG. As the standoff continues, one thing is certain - Papua New Guinea's internet users are not about to let this issue fade away without a fight.
... imagine thousands of people stuck in remote areas with no way to access the internet or online services 
... it's heartbreaking to think that small businesses and health workers are struggling because of this 
... i feel for john simon, he's right, we need to listen to the little people on the street 
... what's going on is like a big game of cat and mouse between starlink and nicta 
... until they figure out a solution, thousands of people are stuck in the dark 
... maybe it's time for a different approach? 
an online petition with 200 signatures is just the beginning 
... something needs to change ASAP! 
the whole country is getting whiplash from unreliable mobile networks n no decent internet 
but like, what's da big deal about a lil satelite internet co not havin a license lol @nicta 4 all de confusion 
& yeah john simon spoke da truth! ordinary ppl r sufferin big time 
health workers, teachers, students... they r all gettin disrupted n it's just not right 
we need stable internet 4 progress 2 happen ASAP 
& btw who decides wut's "legal" online 2 b anyway? 
they're shutting down Starlink which provides internet services to thousands of people in remote areas and it's gonna make life harder for health workers like Theresa Juni who need to send reports quickly 
my heart goes out to all those affected by this shutdown 
. I hope they can resolve this soon, because the longer it takes, the harder it'll be for those affected.
This shutdown has exposed the glaring gap between our government's stance on regulation and the everyday lives of ordinary citizens 
In a country where remote communities rely heavily on Starlink for basic communication, shutting down their internet services is nothing short of disastrous 
It's high time our policymakers recognize that technology is a vital lifeline for many and not just another regulatory hurdle 
I mean, 200 signatures on that petition already? That's like, what, 0.1% of the population? 
. It's like they're being left behind in the digital age. Small businesses and healthcare services are really suffering from this shutdown 
. The government needs to get its act together and figure out a way to make internet services more accessible to everyone, not just those who can afford it 
.
. This shows that there's a growing awareness about the issue and we need to keep pushing for change 
. We can't let our voices be silenced by bureaucratic red tape 
.
the people ar suffering so bad w/o starlink they got no mobile signal either so its like a digital desolate wasteland over there fam 
i mean whats the point of having modern tech if u cant use it? starlink was like a lifeline for ppl in remote areas, especially with unreliable mobile networks. businesses, health workers, teachers... everyone's affected 
. whats the government gonna do? give us a timeline or jus let us suffer 4 months more without internet 
. its not like they r asking 4 a free ride, jus fair licenses & regulations 
what r nicta thinkin?? 
It's like they're stuck in the dark ages 
.
... The online petition is a great idea, showing that there's still public support for the service. I hope someone listens to all the voices out there, especially the ones who are struggling without access to reliable online services 
.
This is so sad what's happening with the internet shutdown in PNG... I mean, I get it that there needs to be some sort of licensing process and all, but come on, Elon Musk's got people living out there who really need reliable internet access. 
and yeah, starlink being shut down is super frustrating 200 people already started an online petition tho 
which is awesome 
cuz who doesn't love a good underdog story? 
let's hope someone from nicta comes around & gives them a timeline soon