The United States Embassy has launched Starlink satellite internet at the American Corner in Waigani, providing visitors with free high-speed internet access and expanding opportunities for education, research and public engagement.
The service was officially launched on July 2 during a ceremony attended by embassy officials and members of the public, marking another step in the United States' investment in digital connectivity across Papua New Guinea.
Speaking at the launch, U.S. Embassy Foreign Assistance Chief Beata Angelica said the initiative forms part of a broader U.S. commitment to improving internet access throughout the country.
"This year, the United States is proud to invest US$30 million in satellite internet connectivity across Papua New Guinea—a transformative commitment that will bring high-speed, low-latency internet to hundreds of remote health facilities, schools and government offices," Angelica said.
She said the investment reflects the United States' commitment to supporting infrastructure that expands access to education, information and economic opportunities.
The addition of Starlink technology will allow visitors to the American Corner to access online educational resources, research study opportunities in the United States and participate in a wider range of learning activities.
The upgraded internet service will also enable the embassy to livestream selected educational programs, extending its outreach beyond Port Moresby to audiences across Papua New Guinea.
To showcase the new capability, the embassy hosted a public lecture titled Kinship as Method: Rethinking Ethics, Collaboration, and Knowledge Production in Anthropology, delivered simultaneously in person and online by renowned anthropologist Dr. Paige West.
The lecture formed part of the embassy's "Freedom 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Liberty and Prosperity" initiative, highlighting collaboration, knowledge-sharing and academic exchange between the United States and Papua New Guinea.
Dr. West is internationally recognized for her research on Papua New Guinea, particularly in environmental conservation, agriculture and Indigenous knowledge systems. Fluent in Tok Pisin and two Indigenous languages, she has spent decades working alongside local communities.
In 2014, she received support through the U.S. Department of State's Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation for a US$60,000 project to preserve the Malagan carving traditions of New Ireland by supporting master carvers in training a new generation of artisans.
She is also the co-founder of the PNG Institute of Biological Research and Roviana Solwara Skul, initiatives that promote collaboration between Indigenous knowledge and Western scientific research.
The embassy said the launch of Starlink at the American Corner demonstrates its continued commitment to strengthening educational partnerships, improving digital access and connecting Papua New Guineans with global learning opportunities through reliable internet connectivity.
