In late December 2025, Starlink, the satellite broadband arm of SpaceX, announced it would withdraw its service from Papua New Guinea, affecting connectivity for consumers and businesses in remote and underserved regions. The exit marks a setback for expanded internet coverage plans that had relied on satellite solutions to bridge geographical barriers across Papua New Guinea’s rugged terrain.
Starlink’s departure leaves a gap in Papua New Guinea’s digital connectivity landscape, particularly for enterprises in rural areas and islands where terrestrial broadband infrastructure is limited or non-existent. The move has raised concerns among advocacy groups, business owners and community leaders who had come to rely on Starlink’s relatively high-speed service for digital communications, online education and remote operations.
Officials in the information and communications sector indicated that the decision could prompt renewed focus on alternative solutions, such as the recent commitment to undersea cable networks by global tech firms including Google. These initiatives are intended to provide more resilient connectivity at scale, but may not immediately replace the flexibility that satellite broadband offered.
Analysts emphasised that Starlink’s withdrawal underscores the complex economics of delivering satellite broadband in countries with challenging geographies and smaller customer bases. The platform had been an important option for businesses, community facilities and government outposts that struggled with limited fibre or mobile broadband access.
In response, local telcos and ICT policymakers are expected to accelerate discussions around domestic partnerships and regulatory frameworks that can attract other international providers or expand national broadband projects to maintain connectivity standards and support economic digitalisation.
