Elon Musk’s Starlink gets green light

The Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology has approved the licence for Elon Musk’s Starlink Services to operate in Jamaica.

The announcement was made via a press release earlier today.

“We are working assiduously to broaden the connectivity across the island. Starlink is a move in the right direction because, with satellite internet, even the areas that have never been connected previously, have the opportunity to have access to high-speed internet now,” said energy minister Daryl Vaz.

According to the release, Starlink uses a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more.

This connectivity is expected to bring better connectivity to remote and underserved areas to engage in more online educational opportunities, and connectivity to support and enable economic growth. 

“This will be an enabling force which will further strengthen the government’s objective in transforming the future of Jamaica by connecting the underserved and unserved communities. We look forward to introducing the Starlink Kit to the public, which arrives with everything you need to get online in minutes, including your Starlink (satellite), WiFi router, cables and base,” Dr Maria Myers-Hamilton, Managing Director of Spectrum Management Authority, remarked.

Starlink is also expected to improve connectivity during cases of natural disaster and emergency response, such as in the aftermath of hurricanes, wildfires and flooding. 

“I remain committed to ensuring we continue to advance technologically as this will bolster advancement in education, the medical field, and economic growth,” Vaz added.

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