Starlink set for commercial launch pending final clearance
The Morning: Starlink has been granted approval to proceed with preparations for its commercial launch by the end of the month, following assurances to the Government that its previously raised security concerns have been addressed, the Minister of Digital Economy reveals.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne revealed that Elon Musk’s Starlink – the satellite unit of SpaceX – had agreed to resolve the security concerns raised by the Government regarding its agreement with the former regime.
It is therefore expected that the path will be cleared for the commercial launch of Starlink’s services by the end of this month.
“They have committed to providing the dashboard, communicating the requirements provided by the Ministry of Defence and the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL).
“They have now informed us that the test devices have been rolled out. Within two weeks’ time, they will demonstrate the dashboard,” Weeraratne said.
He further stated that Government authorities would grant clearance for Starlink’s commercial launch by the end of the month, provided they were satisfied with the arrangements made.
The Deputy Minister added that Starlink had already distributed test devices to around 10 customers for the trial run.
OSL take:
The overall economic expansion in Sri Lanka and the position of becoming an emerging business destination in the South Asian region have created an overall expansion in the ICT and digital infrastructure development sectors. The steadily growing business, trade and investment sectors in Sri Lanka have made it important for the country to be abreast of the fast-evolving global ICT and digital developments. It is this reason that the Sri Lankan government has initiated a digitization programme to ensure the country is transformed into an e-economy. The digitization programme that applies to state and private sectors alike have opened a host of business/investment opportunities in the country for foreign businesses/investors. The growth, profits and expansion recorded by local businesses in the ICT and digital infrastructure development sectors and the increasing entrance of foreign businesses/investors into these sectors in Sri Lanka are a clear indication of the expanding growth and business potential. With Sri Lanka on a development drive and targeting on achieving regional hub status, the growing overall demand to be on par with the other emerging economies in the world, especially the region, the business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s ICT and digital infrastructure development sectors present a host of lucrative opportunities fore foreign businesses/investors. Such foreign businesses/investors could also look at further expanding operations in Sri Lanka through local collaborations.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20250625/Z_2 |