Timor-Leste to Connect 450 Villages With Starlink as 1,500-km Fiber Build Starts Later in 2026
Updated
Updated · Telecompaper EN · May 11
Timor-Leste to Connect 450 Villages With Starlink as 1,500-km Fiber Build Starts Later in 2026
8 articles · Updated · Telecompaper EN · May 11
450 village headquarters across Timor-Leste will get internet access under a new government rural-connectivity plan announced by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Starlink antennas will be installed first under an agreement between the ministry and national telecommunications company Vorakai, giving villages an initial connection before fixed infrastructure arrives.
Later this year, the National Directorate of Infrastructure and Communications will begin building a permanent 1,500-km fibre-optic network linking municipal capitals to administrative centers.
The phased rollout pairs satellite service with a national backbone build, extending connectivity beyond urban areas and setting up longer-term communications infrastructure.
As Starlink connects its villages, can Timor-Leste's national fiber network prevent a new digital divide between rural and urban areas?
Now that 450 villages are online, what is the plan to ensure digital literacy keeps pace with technological leaps?
With US tech providing vital connectivity, how will Timor-Leste navigate the complex challenges of digital sovereignty and data security?