On December 16, 2024, Nauru inaugurated the Pacific's first Starlink Community Gateway, showcasing its high-speed internet capabilities during a live demonstration.

Cenpac, the local internet provider, claims that the Community Gateway will deliver competitive pricing for bandwidth, leading to significant cost savings for residents, businesses, and government services.

Following Nauru's initiative, the Solomon Islands has also granted a license to Starlink, while services are already operational in Tonga and Kiribati.

Cenpac's partner, Nauru Telikom (Neotel), is set to launch mobile services using Starlink's 5G network by January 2025, with Gateway services already available to some customers.

Nauru’s Minister for Telecommunications, Shadlog Bernicke, remarked that this rollout signifies a new era for mobile communication in the country.

The installation of the Community Gateway equipment, including a satellite dish and router, is taking place on land allocated at Command Ridge.

The shift towards satellite internet services like Starlink has been prompted by the unreliability of local internet service providers in the South Pacific region.

Cenpac Chair Zikki Eoe highlighted that this initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and foster innovation for future generations in Nauru.

The inauguration of the Gateway follows Nauru's commencement of construction on its branch of the USD86 million East Micronesia Cable system, which will connect three Pacific island nations.

Starlink has recently launched Community Gateway services in other countries, including Cape Verde, Timor-Leste, and Armenia, with Timor-Leste becoming the 116th country to access this service.

The projected upfront cost for Starlink's Community Gateway service is USD1.25 million, with monthly fees of USD75,000, although Nauru has negotiated a lower monthly payment.

The Nauruan Government has described the inauguration event as a "transformative milestone in the region's infrastructure."