Starlink to boost emergency aid delivery in Milne Bay

Acting Milne Bay provincial administrator Sharon Mua receiving the Starlink equipment from National Disaster Centre acting director general Lusete Laso Mana, flanked by Milne Bay provincial disaster coordinator Randall Ganisi (in green) and an officer from NDC *(Image: NBC News / Sharon Sibunakau)*

Remote island communities and disaster officers in Milne Bay are set for faster emergency relief and real-time reporting following the delivery of new Starlink satellite communication equipment.

The National Disaster Centre [NDC] provided a standard unit and a portable unit to the province on Wednesday to ensure critical communications remain online during the ongoing El Niño dry spell.

The high-speed internet units will eliminate communication blackouts that have long delayed emergency assessments, relief supplies, and casualty updates from isolated outer islands during natural disasters.

NDC acting Director-General Lusete Laso Mana said fast, reliable communication directly impacts how quickly life-saving assistance reaches affected communities.

"El Niño is affecting many parts of the country and communication is becoming a challenge for us," Mana said.

"Some of the provinces, when contacted for reports or situational updates, do not respond promptly or do not respond at all."

He said the new satellite connection will ensure Milne Bay can transmit immediate situational reports to headquarters, allowing relief teams to deploy assistance without delay.

Milne Bay acting provincial administrator Sharon Mua said the technology brings immediate relief to provincial disaster teams who previously relied on aging VHF radio networks.

"On behalf of the provincial disaster committee and provincial government, we thank NDC for meeting our need," Mua said.

"We have been thinking of installing VHF radios because that has been working for us in the past. NDC seeing the need and bringing Starlink to our aid, we are grateful for the foresight."

The standard unit will serve as a permanent communications hub at the provincial administration office in Alotau, while the portable set will travel with emergency teams directly into disaster zones.

Milne Bay is among the first model provinces to receive the technology under an NDC initiative that will distribute 36 Starlink sets to emergency centers across the nation.