The anticipated entry of Starlink into Papua New Guinea is already being framed as transformative for remote provinces, with Governor Allan Bird MP outlining an ambitious plan to deploy the technology across East Sepik.
Governor Bird will deliver the 14th Henry Kila Memorial Address at the 41st Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum in Brisbane 13-15 May.
Welcoming the recent court decision allowing Starlink to be licensed, Bird described the move as a practical solution to long-standing connectivity challenges in one of Papua New Guinea’s largest and most remote provinces.
“The primary obstacles are the high cost of hardware and excessive data prices from existing satellite providers,” Bird said, noting that previous attempts to roll out digital education and service delivery models had been constrained by cost and reliability.
Under the province’s plan, the East Sepik Provincial Government has budgeted for an initial rollout of 300 Starlink units to connect schools, health facilities, communities, and island areas. A longer-term goal would see more than 600 devices deployed, effectively providing coverage at the ward level.
The implications extend beyond education. Bird said the province intends to link remote health facilities in locations such as May River, Ambunti, Timbunke, Samban and Marienberg to the Angau Memorial Hospital network, enabling real-time specialist consultations. Satellite connectivity is also expected to support policing in isolated areas through mobile communications.
“Our children need access to free Internet so that we can boost their learning capability,” he said, adding that the government is exploring ways to provide community access while filtering inappropriate content.
The case for Starlink has gained traction as Papua New Guinea’s telecom market opens up. Media reports in late April and early May described the technology as uniquely suited to the country’s terrain, offering cheaper, more reliable, and easily deployable connectivity compared to traditional satellite providers.
Bird framed the technology as an economic and social equaliser for provinces that struggle with limited resources and vast distances.
“Internet technology is the great equaliser for provinces like ours,” he said. “We cannot serve our people effectively without access to cheap, reliable technology.”
As licensing progresses, East Sepik’s rollout plans offer an early indication of how Starlink could be deployed across Papua New Guinea –not just as a commercial service, but as a foundation for public service delivery and inclusive economic development.
