Technology Minister Concerned About Possible Revenue Erosion with Starlink in Antigua

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Antigua’s Technology Minister Discusses Starlink’s Growth and Regulatory Challenges

 

Antigua’s Technology Minister, Melford Nicholas, recently addressed the public regarding the growth of Starlink, a satellite internet service provider, in the country.

Minister Nicholas highlighted Starlink’s unique approach, stating, “Starlink is a service provider that utilizes a series of low orbit satellites to provide internet service to many countries and to many points on the globe that are unserved by terrestrial internet service providers.”

He emphasized the benefits of Starlink, particularly for the marine community, stating, “It is particularly helpful for the marine community.”

Minister Nicholas noted that the presence of Starlink became evident during the start of Antigua Sailing Week a few years ago, with yachts arriving in Antigua equipped with satellite access equipment.

He said, “We did notice that at the start of sailing week a few years back that it had begun to emerge that yachts were arriving here with equipment and facilities that will demonstrate that they [were] accessing [and] installing one or more of these satellites.”

However, Minister Nicholas also acknowledged the regulatory challenges posed by Starlink’s presence, especially regarding spectrum management.

He explained, “It presents a challenge in our environment, a regulatory challenge in terms of how does the spectrum that they’re utilizing affect our own spectrum management facilities here.”

From an economic standpoint, Minister Nicholas expressed concerns about potential revenue erosion, stating, “Telecommunication services attract taxes, and of course, the proliferation of these services would, in fact, lead to an erosion of the government’s revenues.” Despite these challenges, Minister Nicholas assured that his ministry has been actively engaging with Starlink for the past two years.

He mentioned, “My Ministry has been in touch with the principals of Starlink as early as two years ago.” Minister Nicholas elaborated on their engagement, stating, “We did facilitate in the first instance a trial period here in Antigua. We had certainly utilized their services in Barbuda when we were setting up the measurement systems for the geometric analysis of the lands.”

In addressing the regulatory and economic concerns, Minister Nicholas revealed ongoing discussions with Starlink to find a viable solution. He mentioned, “We’re still engaging, but I can’t give any further information other than to say that the ministry is in active engagement with Starlink and we’re seeking to close those gaps.”

Minister Nicholas also proposed a potential solution, suggesting collaboration with existing internet service providers under a white-label model. He explained, “One of the ways we thought of doing that is that they could work with one of the existing internet service providers and they could, in turn, utilize their service in a white-label environment.”

While Starlink has not yet accepted this proposal, Minister Nicholas expressed optimism about reaching a resolution. He concluded, “I believe that they rebuffed that initial approach from us, and so we’re still engaging, but I can’t give any further information other than to say that the ministry is in active engagement with Starlink and we’re seeking to close those gaps.

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12 COMMENTS

  1. BARBADOS, JAMAICA, TRINIDAD, ST. MARTIN all have Starlink. It is only us that always seem to have problems with accepting progress. But if a giant hurricane hits us this summer, they will wish we had Starlink to communicate with the outside world as all local internet providers including Inet fiber that run on telephone poles will be blown away.

  4. I hope starlink don’t take on no so call proposal from any of these government inet fiber is the worst I have seen and is now been forced on to the who have the serve before fiber and now the ppl have better option they want to control it rather step up and provide what the ppl should be getting I can contest that Digicel and Flow service are way better out of this country so why we paying for crap

  5. Be in the lookout for CABINET NOTES which states a business made a presentation to Cabinet to be the Starlink Reseller

    Melford Nicholas admits Starlink has been used in Barbuda. It’s not about looking at by white label model.

    They just have to finalize the under the table model of a Creative Enrichment deal with regards to who is going to be the local reseller of Starlink satellite internet services.

    The deal will go down with a Creative Enrichment package as part of the introduction of Starlink internet services; while the media and the Opposition stays asleep at the switch.

  6. If the government run provider activity provided. There would be no need for star link. But like all things in Antigua. Too expensive, too slow. Poor customer service.

  7. The internet service providers in Antigua offer a crappy, 5th world service. Full stop. End of story. We will go where the service is superb at a price better than offered locally.

  8. Starlink internet works even after the biggest hurricane or earthquake. No matter what happens, Starlink works as it is satellite. No wires on telephone polls or antennas or anything like that. Why would we block that? Remember after Barbuda was hit by Irma in 2017? Nobody knew how badly they had been hit as there was means of communicating with them? Starlink would work in that situation.

    • Simple! We no have no money for no starlink! And we no have no more money for personal enrichment either! I am sure Elon Musk offered starlink service free to Barbuda after Irma and they will do the same for Antigua if we get affected. Why the rush to spend more scarce resources? Maybe if they get rid of paying for the Alpha Nargo etc, we would have money for such things.

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