Sri Lanka’s plan to establish operations for Starlink, the satellite internet service by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has been delayed until after the Presidential Election due to pending clearances with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, a top source revealed.
Earlier, State Minister of Technology, Kanaka Herath, announced that the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission had granted preliminary approval for Starlink to provide satellite-based internet services in Sri Lanka. Additionally, Parliament recently approved amendments to a decades-old law, paving the way for Starlink to set up operations in the country.
Parliament passed a new telecommunications bill on Tuesday, amending the existing law for the first time in 28 years, without a vote. The amendments introduce three new types of licenses, allowing Starlink to enter Sri Lanka’s telecom market as a licensed service provider.
However, a senior government source noted that the Starlink launch would be impossible before the Presidential Elections scheduled for September 21, when Sri Lankans will vote for the next President to lead the country for the next five years.
Once Starlink is operational, Elon Musk is expected to visit Sri Lanka, and government authorities are also planning a Zoom meeting with Starlink representatives.
