Bougainville progresses partnership with SpaceX

The Autonomous Region of Bougainville is one step closer to utilising world leading communications technology, following a meeting with SpaceX.

On the sidelines of the 2024 PNG Investment Week, ABG President Ishmael Toroama met with representatives from Rocket and Satellite company, SpaceX, to discuss areas of potential collaboration, to enable communities across Bougainville to access services provided by SpaceX, which include global roaming Starlink kits.

“The meeting between the ABG and SpaceX is timely, as we look to explore communication services that can be utilised to bring about change within our region,” President Toroama said.  

“The need to adapt with global changes in communication services is critical to Bougainville’s future. We envision utilising SpaceX services to lay the foundation for a range of uses, including disaster response monitoring, and e-commerce.”

“The opportunity to discuss with SpaceX representatives here at PNG Investment Week follows a decision by the Bougainville Executive Council to approve the use of Starlink services in the Autonomous Region.”

The meeting between the ABG and SpaceX was facilitated by PNG Chamber of Resources and Energy [PNG CORE] through its President Anthony Smaré. 

“The ABG under the leadership of President Ishmael Toroama is again leading the way, this time through the use of SpaceX services, which are a game changer,” Mr. Smare said.  

“Can you imagine in a matter of a few short months, the game-changing potential of Starlink mini units and high-speed internet in every village, every school, every atoll in Bougainville? It opens the door to e-health, online education with international institutions and access to a whole host of what the world offers digitally.”