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Tag: Papua New Guinea

  • Starlink Halts Operations in Papua New Guinea Amid Licensing Legal Battle

    Starlink Halts Operations in Papua New Guinea Amid Licensing Legal Battle

    Starlink, a satellite internet service, has ceased its operations in Papua New Guinea following a directive from the country’s telecommunications regulator. This halt in services comes amidst an ongoing dispute over licensing.

    The Regulatory Standoff

    The National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), has confirmed that they had instructed SpaceX, the parent company of Starlink, to stop all satellite services in Papua New Guinea due to a lack of a valid operating license.

    Starlink is currently not licensed to operate in Papua New Guinea. Despite this, NICTA reported witnessing continued importation, supply, installation, and use of Starlink terminals in the country over recent months.

    According to a statement by the regulator, anyone involved in these activities is violating the law and may face enforcement action, including prosecution. The regulator’s actions are limited due to an ongoing legal disagreement involving the Ombudsman Commission, which blocked the licensing of Starlink in March 2024 over worries related to regulatory oversight and governance.

    The matter has now been escalated to the National Court, with the regulator seeking judicial clarity that would allow it to proceed with licensing if approval is given.

    Starlink’s Commitment

    Despite the withdrawal of services, Starlink has expressed its continued commitment to Papua New Guinea. The company issued a service notification to its customers, encouraging them to voice their support for its approval.

    Starlink expressed its belief that high-speed, reliable internet would support homes, businesses, schools, and remote communities across the country.

    NICTA has confirmed that about 200 individuals have signed a petition advocating for Starlink to be permitted to operate in the country. However, for the time being, Starlink remains offline in Papua New Guinea as legal proceedings continue to influence the future of satellite broadband access in the country.

    Questions & Answers

    Why has Starlink ceased operations in Papua New Guinea?

    Starlink has stopped its services following a directive from the country’s telecommunications regulator, the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), which stated that the company lacked a valid operating license.

    What has been the reaction of Starlink to this situation?

    Starlink has issued a service notification to its customers, urging them to express their support for its approval. The company has reiterated its commitment to Papua New Guinea and believes that high-speed, reliable internet will support various sectors across the country.

    What is the current state of this situation?

    Legal proceedings are ongoing, and the future of satellite broadband access in Papua New Guinea continues to be determined. In the meantime, Starlink remains offline in the country.

  • Papua New Guinea Launches UBS Loan Investigation

    Papua New Guinea Launches UBS Loan Investigation

    Newly elected Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape announced the launch of a full investigation to confirm if the government had violated its own rules regarding a 1.2 billion Australian dollar UBS loan.

    The Swiss bank extended the loan (now valued at $847 million) in 2014 to purchase a key stake in energy firm Oil Search while the current prime minister Marape was then its finance minister.

    According to Marape, the investigation was not only about «looking at leaders» but to reveal the fuller scope of the entire transaction which he believes extends beyond Papa New Guinea.

    The scope is not only confined to investigations in this country, he said.

    UBS transactions have taken place in one or two other jurisdictions outside of our country and so the train of events will be followed by this inquiry… once concluded will put finality to the matters.

    Former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, stepped down due to loss of confidence in his leadership in May this year. Sarape was elected and sworn in one day after, having since made bold statements including his goal to turn Papa New Guinea into the world’s richest black Christian nation.

    Under the new leadership, the government then sold its Oil Search stake and repaid the loan.

    Prior to Sarape’s investigation, the loan had already been flagged by the country’s Ombudsman Commission for breached budget guidelines and Swiss regulator FINMA had also claimed to have contacted UBS in March about the matter.

    The country deserves the fullest scrutiny as to what has happened, Sarape said.

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  • Papua focuses on developing tourism in Biak and Supiori

    Papua focuses on developing tourism in Biak and Supiori

    The Papua administration has focused on developing tourism in the districts of Biak Numfor and Supiori.

    “So far, two regions have become a priority for tourism development, notably the districts of Biak Numfor and Supiori,” Ysh Is Matutina, head of the tourism office of Papua, stated here, Thursday.

    Tourism development has been carried out since 2016.

    Several tourist attractions and destinations in Supiori have been identified by the local tourism offices of Papua and Supiori.

    The development is aimed at attracting more domestic and foreign tourists.

    In Biak Numfor, the priority is to develop the Sausapor Beach. Several other tourist attractions and destinations are also being developed.

    Meanwhile, the number of foreign tourists visiting Biak Numfor District, Papua Province, increased to 3,399 people in 2016, as compared to 1,779 in the previous year.

    The increase was the result of intensified tourism promotion activities carried out by the Biak District administration, Enias Rumbewas, spokesman of the Biak Numfor district government, noted recently.

    Foreign tourists from Japan, the Netherlands, Australia, China, and several European countries, among others, visit Biak.

    The number of domestic tourist arrivals also surged from some 28 thousand in 2015 to 30 thousand in 2016.

    Among the existing tourist attractions in Biak are the World War II wreckage, maritime scenery, and its unique cultural diversity regularly showcased at the Biak Munara Wampasi festival.

    This year, the festival will be organized in July and will feature activities, such as traditional snap mor fishing, Mansusui boat race, and a visit to the Padaido/Aimando islands.

    The Biak Numfor district government has allocated funds worth Rp1 billion through the local Tourism Office to ensure the success of the cultural festival.

    Last year, the festival was held on Jul 1-4 to showcase traditional Japanese “katana” vintage samurai swords from World War II.