The Fiji Telecommunications Authority (TAF) has issued Starlink a license to operate in Fiji but has refused to issue import permits for the Starlink hardware kit.
According to a report by the Fiji Times, TAF chairman David Eyre does not want Starlink to operate, even though it is licensed in Fiji.
David mentioned a condition about Starlink needing to support the delivery of hardware kits to Fiji. Whatever that means.
Here’s the big reveal: it wants Starlink to pay a revenue-based telecommunications levy, just like other telecom companies do.
Why should Fiji stop people from ordering their own hardware kit for Starlink and setting it up at their home?
“What we’re saying is if there was a process to allow the kit in, you could probably take the kit but in theory, you shouldn’t have a service associated with it because Starlink hasn’t necessarily offered a service in Fiji,” said David.
The report talked about a frustrated Starlink customer who ordered a kit and Fiji Customs held it because TAF would not issue an import permit.
“For us, the ability to monitor services in Fiji requires a kit, which by default requires an import permit, and right now, because the service isn’t active, that’s sort of probably the mechanism that we’re falling back on. To say right, we can probably hold your kit in some way and then when the service launches then you can come and collect it,” he further stated.
Unlike Samoa, Starlink equipment is being brought to Samoa from New Zealand without any issues. And now that the Samoan government has reversed the Samoa Regulator’s cease notice on Starlink, it is open season for Samoa.
