The Fijian government will bring reliable internet and voice services to more than 111,000 people in remote and underserved areas through a Starlink satellite rollout, Deputy Prime Minister and Communications Minister Manoa Kamikamica told Parliament. Tests of Starlink’s low‑earth orbit system in November 2024 delivered “decisive” results across multiple terrains, prompting the Telecommunications Authority to adopt the technology for the first phase of the Universal Service Scheme (USS).
Phase one will connect 126 sites — prioritising maritime and hard‑to‑reach communities — including 36 sites each in Kadavu and Lau, 15 in Lomaiviti, 13 in Namosi, two in Navosa and 24 in Tailevu. Each location will include at least two Wi‑Fi access points, solar power kits for off‑grid communities, emergency satellite phones for disaster response, and a voucher‑based access model to help manage usage.
The scheme aims to close the largest connectivity gaps identified in a nationwide list of about 240 designated universal service areas. Officials say the satellite approach cuts implementation time and costs compared with building terrestrial towers; government figures cited in planning documents show per‑site satellite setups can be far lower than the hundreds of thousands of dollars a tower would require, allowing wider coverage more quickly.
Community ownership and capacity building are central to the design: local youth will be trained to maintain equipment, and women’s groups and cooperatives will run voucher distribution, creating small business and financial‑inclusion opportunities. Kamikamica told Parliament the programme is “not just about technology,” noting it will help children attend online classes, enable telemedicine for nurses, give fishermen real‑time weather updates, and allow small businesses to reach new customers.
Additional context and comments
– Why Starlink was chosen: Low‑Earth‑Orbit satellites offer wide coverage and lower latency than traditional geostationary satellites, making them well suited to scattered island geographies where terrestrial infrastructure is expensive and slow to deploy.
– Disaster resilience: Emergency satellite phones and off‑grid solar kits provide lifelines during cyclones and when terrestrial networks fail.
– Cost and rollout logic: Satellite solutions are modular and upgradable, enabling faster deployment to many small communities rather than investing in costly towers at each site.
– Local benefits: Training and voucher management can create jobs, boost digital literacy and support women’s entrepreneurship in remote areas.
Practical considerations for success
– Ongoing funding for maintenance, vouchers and connectivity subscriptions will be essential to sustain services after installation.
– Digital literacy programmes and affordable device access should accompany connectivity to ensure communities can use services effectively.
– Clear performance metrics (uptime, user numbers, service response times) and regular community feedback will help measure impact and guide subsequent phases.
Brief summary
Fiji will connect 126 remote sites using Starlink LEO satellite technology as part of Phase One of the Universal Service Scheme, bringing internet and emergency voice services to more than 111,000 people, backed by solar power, voucher access and local training to boost resilience, education and livelihoods.
Hopeful note
If implemented with strong community involvement, ongoing support and digital‑skills training, this rollout can rapidly narrow the digital divide in Fiji’s most isolated areas and create new economic and social opportunities for thousands of households.
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