Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aminath Shauna expressed a commitment to welcoming digital innovation in the Maldives at the special ceremony held to unveil long-awaited affordable internet prices on Thursday morning.

In a televised address, Minister Shauna stated that the Solih administration's goal was to match up to global digital and technological advancements. She expressed a vision of having government agencies connected through a robust digital network, including critical sectors such as healthcare services. Minister Shauna added that one of the lessons learned amid prevailing difficulties of the global Covid-19 pandemic was that citizens could remain at home and work online given adequate resources to do so.

With changes brought to internet prices, the government will be overseeing and regulating the quality and costs of internet services in the Maldives. As such, efforts are underway to strengthen the regulatory framework, and to have the Communications Authority if Maldives regulate speeds and monitor the quality of internet services provided by Dhiraagu and Ooredoo, who presently hold duopoly power as the two major internet service providers (ISPs) in Maldives.

An agreement has been reached with ISPs and the government to explore how internet prices can be dashed further, and how the quality of services provided can be increased over the next three years.

In her speech, Minister Shauna noted that internet services were now inseparable from daily life as an essential utility. She added that work needed for offices, online classes and even consultations with doctors could be conducted online, and that residents of Maldives were more dependent than ever before on these digital connections with the onset of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Minister Shauna assured that the government was committed to regard internet as an essential utility, and to have every person living in the Maldives be able to access high equality internet services at affordable prices.

Expressing hopes that all residents would seek lawful benefits from the reduction in internet prices, Minister Shauna asserted that she would be working to implement changes requested by citizens.

In a tweet posted on Thursday, Minister Shauna stated that the incumbent administration welcomed innovative solutions to longstanding problems, announcing that the Maldivian government has no intention to block SpaceX's high-speed internet service Starlink, developed by billionaire business mogul Elon Musk.

Minister Shauna made the remarks to clarify concerns on behalf of citizens that the government would be moving to block Starlink connections in Maldives. On the day reduced internet prices were unveiled in the Maldives, Minsiter Shauna reiterated the Solih administration's commitment to developing a digital Maldives that was up to speed with global technological advancements.

SpaceX's Starklink internet connection will rely on a number of satellites orbiting the Earth, and aims to provide high-speed internet services to all parts of the world. While the network remains in beta-stage after two years of research and development efforts, it is estimated that the Starlink network will cost up to USD 10 billion to develop.

Hundreds of thousands of people across the world have already pre-ordered Starlink connections, and the idea of satellite-supported internet services at unprecedented speeds has become very popular among Maldivians as well.