Samoa’s Office of the Regulator (OOTR) has reportedly imposed a temporary ban on the import of Starlink kits until SpaceX’s application for a license to offer LEO satellite broadband services to consumers in Samoa is approved.
According to a report in the Samoa Observer, the OOTR issued the ban in response to reports that several residents have purchased Starlink services via overseas markets like Australia and New Zealand, and subsequently brought Starlink kits into Samoa for personal or business use.
Individuals importing Starlink units often cite reasons such as affordability, faster speeds, and wider availability compared to local broadband services, as highlighted in the report.
Regulator Lematua Gisa Fuatai Purcell stated that individuals found importing Starlink kits into Samoa will have their equipment confiscated at the border. For those who imported Starlink kits before the ban for business purposes, they will be required to submit them to the OOTR for type approval. Subsequently, they will be granted a license to use the kit for business purposes for a period of 12 months, as outlined in the report.
Part of the issue also stems from last month’s announcement that Starlink received clearance from the cabinet to operate in Samoa.
According to another report from Talamua Online News, OOTR conducted a public forum earlier this week to clarify that Starlink’s clearance from the cabinet is solely for providing connectivity to healthcare and education facilities through a partnership with local service provider Bluwave Wireless.
Purcell confirmed that SpaceX has submitted an application for a license to operate in Samoa, and the application is currently under review, with approval expected. She also mentioned that Starlink has chosen Bluwave as its local agent for other satellite services beyond the healthcare and education sector.
Until the license is granted, the use of Starlink services by individuals remains unauthorized in Samoa. Individuals who fail to bring their kits in for type approval and continue to use them before Starlink is officially licensed to offer services in Samoa will face legal consequences, according to the report.
