Government of Belize Seeks Presentation on Starlink Amid Pending Approval Decision

The Government of Belize has requested a presentation on Elon Musk’s Starlink, to determine the implications if approved.  Last month, the company applied to the Public Utilities Commission to become an internet service provider in Belize. However, while the PUC has received much feedback, both for and against, it has yet to decide whether to accept or deny the request. Belize is among five countries in the hemisphere that have yet to grant access to Starlink. Yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Francis Fonseca was asked to weigh in on the matter. 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “I think you know we’ve had a very brief discussion about it in Cabinet. I don’t know enough about the issue because it’s a technical issue but you know we’re going to get a proper presentation that’s what we discussed and agreed. We’re going to get a proper presentation from the PUC and from the Ministry I think of Public Utilities as well so that we can have a better understanding of the issue and then we can provide some sort of recommendation. So you know with technology of course we want to protect our interest in Belize, we want to protect our company BTL but as you all know with technology in a sense it’s inevitable that these things happen. So you know it’s something we’re looking at but I think once we get that presentation we’ll be in a better position to speak on the issue.”

A main point of contention is the possible negative impact it may have on the state-owned Belize Telemedia Limited.