Vodafone Fiji has officially become the latest authorized reseller of Starlink satellite Internet services, marking it as the second subsidiary of Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH) to do so within a span of five months. The announcement was made last week.
This partnership aims to bring advanced satellite internet technology to Fiji, aligning with Vodafone Fiji’s commitment to provide innovative connectivity solutions to the Fijian community. By utilizing Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellites, Vodafone Fiji intends to offer its enterprise customers dependable high-speed internet, even in the most remote areas of the country.
Starlink’s expansion into the Pacific region presents both opportunities and challenges for ATH. The telecom conglomerate, which has been expanding its mobile phone services across several Pacific nations through the Vodafone brand, acknowledged in its latest annual report the potential benefits as well as concerns surrounding Starlink’s entry.
ATH’s CEO Ivan Fong emphasized that while Starlink presents competition in the retail market, it also offers significant opportunities to enhance their services and connect underserved communities cost-effectively. He mentioned that Telecom Fiji Ltd (TFL) and potentially other subsidiaries plan to collaborate with Starlink to utilize its satellite technology, which would improve connectivity throughout the region.
However, Fong expressed concerns regarding the rise of low-Earth orbit satellites, particularly issues related to data sovereignty, information security, and compliance with regulatory and tax laws. He stressed the importance of having uniform terms and conditions for all internet service providers to ensure fair competition in the market.
Starlink’s recent official launch in the Cook Islands has already impacted Vodafone Cook Islands, another ATH subsidiary, which reported a 12 percent decline in Internet revenue and a significant loss in high-yield residential and certain business segments due to Starlink’s entry.
Earlier this year, Telecom Fiji became the first subsidiary of ATH to offer Starlink services in Fiji.
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