PM Briceno Defends PUC’s Decision to Deny Starlink’s License in Belize

Prime Minister John Briceno says that it was in the best interest of the country for the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to deny Starlink’s application to provide internet services across Belize. This week, the PUC announced that it had reviewed Starlink’s application and decided not to approve the license. Instead, the PUC has granted end-users the opportunity to import and operate Starlink equipment under specific circumstances. Today, PM Briceno spoke on the decision and why he believes Starlink could have negatively impacted the country’s already established internet providers. 

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “What has happened is that remember we, Belize, our citizens have made an investment of over six hundred and ten million dollars in BTL and we need to try to find that balance. We also have another telecom, we have the cable providers and it would, be the competition, you know. We can’t fight the wealthiest man on earth. So we have been encouraging Starlink to get to have resellers, work with BTL, work with Smart, work with the cable companies but they want it all. They want it all and we can’t allow that. And many countries have had many problems by allowing Starlink to just come and open competition because they’ve been running out many companies out of business. So what we have been doing, what we have, well the PUC’s position which I support, is to say whilst we’re not giving them an open license per se, we would allow that a citizen would come and say “I want.” we’ve been doing that forever that you know I want to do a satellite dish or whatever back then, you get a permit to be able to do that. So what they’re saying, if you come and you are living deep in the bush and then you do not have access to this, to internet services and you want to bring it in, they will approve it. So I think that are the best compromise.” 

Starlink is a US-based company owned by tech-tycoon Elon Musk.