BTL Calls Starlink a Complementary Service  

And as debate continues over BTL’s proposed purchase of Speednet, questions are also being raised about how the company plans to compete in a rapidly changing digital landscape. With critics pointing to emerging technologies like Starlink as a potential game‑changer, Belize Telemedia Limited says satellite internet is not a threat, but a complement to its existing network. Here’s what the company has to say.

 

Ian Cleverly, Chief Financial Officer, Belize Telemedia Limited

“Jobs and capacity. We have a growth strategy that believes in Belize’s technical expertise, careers and strengthens long-term national capacity in line with our digital agenda. We know Belize needs to upskill its resources, its people for the new age of technology development, and this enables BTL to expand that training and upskilling to the next generation.”

 

Shane Williams

“Is BTL concerned about possible traits from future technologies like Starlink?

 

Ian Cleverly

“Starlink has been raised a lot in the media over the last few weeks. Starlink is a complimentary service. Starlink has its challenges. We have a terrestrial network which has greater speeds, greater access. Fiber to the home network is very strong. Starlink has very defined channels of how, what size bandwidth you can up and down. That doesn’t necessarily compete directly with terrestrial. So we are not seeing Starlink as competition. We’re seeing it as complimentary because it has its use cases. But for speed and for the amount of data people are consuming today, the terrestrial network is much quicker and much faster.”

 

BTL insists that even as new technologies like Starlink enter the market, its focus remains on strengthening Belize’s terrestrial network, building local skills, and growing long‑term national capacity.