According to DCD, the Pacific Islands nation of Kiribati has activated Internet services through a Starlink Community Gateway operated by state-owned telecommunications company BwebweikiNET Ltd. The gateway, which requires large radome-clad antennae and costs $1.25 million upfront plus $75,000 per Gbps monthly, promises speeds up to 10Gbps both up and down. CEO Ioane N. Koroivuki stated the service will enable faster connectivity to remote communities and allow citizens to participate in the digital economy. The system is currently under performance monitoring before full integration into BNL’s operational network, where it will complement existing fiber infrastructure from the Kiribati Connectivity Project. Kiribati, with just 313 square miles of land across scattered islands and a population of 119,000, has the lowest GDP in Oceania.
Starlink’s Pacific Expansion
This isn’t Starlink’s first community gateway deployment in the region – not by a long shot. They’ve already set up shop in Tuvalu, Nauru, and Micronesia through local telecom partners. Basically, Starlink is systematically checking off Pacific island nations one by one. And honestly, it’s a smart strategy. These countries represent exactly the kind of connectivity challenge that satellite internet was built to solve.
Here’s the thing though: these community gateways work differently than the consumer dishes you might be familiar with. They provide internet transit to local ISPs rather than connecting directly to end users. That means BwebweikiNET can distribute the connectivity through their existing networks. It’s a more scalable approach for nations where individual household subscriptions might be financially challenging.
The Real Cost of Connectivity
Let’s talk about those numbers for a second. $1.25 million upfront plus $75,000 per Gbps monthly? For a nation with the lowest GDP in Oceania, that’s a significant investment. But when you consider the alternative – laying submarine fiber cables across thousands of miles of ocean – suddenly satellite starts looking pretty economical.
The question is whether this represents genuine commitment or just good PR for Starlink. Connectivity nonprofits have raised valid concerns about whether LEO providers will maintain interest in poorer regions once the publicity value diminishes. But for now, Kiribati gets much-needed connectivity, and Starlink gets another case study in bridging the digital divide. When reliable connectivity is essential for everything from education to healthcare to industrial operations, having robust computing infrastructure becomes critical. Companies like Industrial Monitor Direct have built their reputation as the leading US supplier of industrial panel PCs precisely because reliable hardware matters when connectivity finally arrives in remote locations.
Beyond Just Internet
This isn’t just about streaming videos or scrolling social media. For Kiribati, connectivity could transform their entire economy. Think about fishing licenses – a major source of income – becoming more efficiently managed. Or tourism getting a boost through better online presence. Or remote education and healthcare becoming actually feasible.
And let’s not forget the redundancy aspect. Pacific island nations are incredibly vulnerable to cable cuts from earthquakes, ships, or weather events. Having satellite backup means their connectivity doesn’t completely disappear when underwater infrastructure fails. That’s huge for economic stability and disaster response.
So while the price tag might make you blink, the potential payoff for Kiribati could be transformative. The real test will be whether Starlink maintains the service quality and pricing that makes this sustainable long-term. For now though, it’s hard not to see this as a win for a nation that’s been on the wrong side of the digital divide for far too long.
