The Maldives has etched its name in the annals of technological advancement by becoming the first country in South Asia to grant SpaceX’s Starlink company the green light to establish its trailblazing internet services.
In an auspicious ceremony, the Communication Authority of Maldives (CAM) extended the coveted Internet Service Provider (ISP) license to Starlink, marking an epochal moment in the nation’s digital trajectory. Senior Director at SpaceX, Ryan Goodnight, received the license from Minister of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology, Aminath Shauna, accentuating the gravity of the occasion. This heralds the issuance of the fourth ISP license by CAM.
Minister Shauna, in her address, heralded this as a pivotal opportunity to amplify and elevate internet services within the Maldives. She astutely observed the pivotal role internet services play as an integral daily resource in the Maldives, underscoring its status as the region’s torchbearer in offering comprehensive internet provisions. Minister Shauna illuminated the nation’s ascent to a new technological zenith as the first in South Asia to proffer Starlink services, a feat that echoes its pioneering introduction of 4G and 5G services. She acknowledged the concerted efforts of the three other ISPs that paved the way for the proliferation of internet services across the nation.
Amidst this historic juncture, Senior Director Goodnight emanated confidence in Starlink’s ability to bestow exemplary services upon the people of the Maldives. He underscored Starlink’s omnipresence, spanning across 60 countries and striving to expand its footprint on a global scale.
Further enriching the discourse, Chief Executive of CAM, Ilyas Ahmed, lauded Starlink’s ascendancy owing to its avant-garde satellite technology. Ahmed underscored the versatility of Starlink’s service, catering to even the remotest corners of the nation, reaching fishermen at sea or inhabitants of uninhabited islands. He iterated CAM’s unwavering commitment to fostering a competitive milieu, ensuring affordable and contemporary internet services.
Starlink, the vanguard of the largest satellite constellation harnessing low Earth orbit technology, is poised to revolutionize high-speed, low-latency broadband internet service. Pioneering an era of unparalleled connectivity, Starlink satellites hold the promise to blanket every corner of the globe, even in areas untouched by traditional internet infrastructure.
