P.M. Supports Limitations Placed on Starlink Belize LLC

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has put the brakes on Star Link Belize’s operations by denying its application for a Class License. The company had hoped to provide fixed and mobile broadband internet across the country. With this restriction, Starlink services will now be limited to unserved or underserved areas, vessels and aircraft under Earth Station in-Motion, and during natural disasters when other providers can’t deliver emergency services. Today, Prime Minister John Briceño explained that this decision was made to protect Belize’s local internet providers, like B.T.L.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“What happened is that remember we Belize our citizens have made an investment of over ten million dollars in BTL and we need to find that balance. We also have another telecom, another investment and providers. It would be, the competition, we cant fight the wealthiest man on earth. We have been encouraging Star Link to get resellers, work with BTL, work with other companies, but they want it all. We cant allow that. Many countries have had many problem by allowing Star Link to come and operate because they have been running out a lot of country. So, what we have, the PUC position, which I support, we are not giving them an open license, but if a citizen comes and say, and we have been doing that forever. We want a satellite dish, you get a permit to do that. So if you come and living deep in the bush and do not have access to internet service and want to bring it in, they will approve it. So, I think that is the best compromise.”