Starlink to operate in Nepal! Geopolitical interest? Pros|Cons|Details
Elon Musk’s starlink, the internet service provider is rumored to launch in Nepal. Virtual meetings with PM KP Sharma Oli , posted by Oli have also indicate the lobbing from Elon’s side.
What is Starlink?
Starlink is the Elon Musk internet service provider company through satellite. Elon’s company SpaceX have launched more than 4000 satellites in the space for providing internet. So, in space war, USA is ahead as Musk alone have this much of satellite encircling the earth.
Till now, Starlink is available in more than 40 countries worldwide including alliance countries of USA like Japan, Austrailia, South America, Canada, UK, etc.
Starlink Pricing:
| Starlink plan | Monthly price | Speed range | Equipment costs | Data allotment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $120 | 25-100Mbps | $349 upfront | Standard unlimited |
| Priority | $140-$500 | 40-220Mbps | $349-$2,500 upfront | 40GB-2TB, standard unlimited thereafter |
| Mobile | $50-$165 | 5-50Mbps | $599 | Standard unlimited |
| Mobile Priority | $250-$5,000 | 40-220Mbps | $2,500 upfront | 50GB-5TB, standard unlimited thereafter |
This plan is sooo much expensive that average earning in Nepal per month is less than the starlink’s cost. According to cnet review, starlink’s service is much more expensive.
Even, for users in countries like Nepal, if someone willing to pay for very basic of 120$ per month, which cost more than 16,000/- Nepalese rupees per month, the speed will be 25-100 Mbps.
In the same cost, Optical fiber with 250Mbps would cost less than 15000/- per year. So, starlink’s internet can be very useful for developed countries but for countries like Nepal, where earnings is low, this satellite services would suck the wallet.
Is starlink satellite in Nepal has geopolitical interest?
Well, When looking the geo map for current available services countries, neighbor India is showing Pending regulatory approval and china, rival of US seems not giving any approval as it already banned major US social media app.
In Nepal, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) have already been enacted and some interviews in media shows that MCC is investing in intelligence and also not willing to give the audit report to Nepal government. So, for intelligence in Nepal and also between India and China, it seems a much more interest in geopolitics.
From early 2022, Starlink official members and US embassy in Nepal members team also have visited the prime minister and minister for communication for the possible way to launch satellite internet in Nepal. Also, NTA which regulates this ISP, also have been informed and some officials also have met the starlink member.
Some news from onlinekhabar shows that, starlink want to register a company as just to sell its satellite device in Nepal. But being registered as a company just to sell the satellite devices and later on providing internet is not accepted in Nepal. This is because, there are also many ISP’s who have served many years in-order to get the license.
Role of PM KP Oli:
A recent virtual meetings with musk by PM Oli is seen in social media. Some people rumored that, Oli might have diverted the general people in starlink as people were more depressed by the politicians involvement in corruption and more. A recent news, like Punya Parsai statement regarding the prime minister’s involvement in Combodia’s telecos shares.
Existing ISP’s infrastructure:
Currently, Nepal telecom and Ncell have east west optical fiber connectivity providing data services. Likewise more than 2 million customers are connecting through optical fiber internet through more than 20 ISP’s distributed through out Nepal. So, existing infrastructure is much more capable of providing internet services in a much more cheaper way in an affordable way as compared to the living standards and income of Nepal.
Also, FTTH is much more high speed in a more affordable cost.
Wasting money on only a internet would’t do justice for people of countries like Nepal. What is your thought?
