The Indo-Pacific’s digital divide is substantial but uneven. Highly connected economies, such as Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, stand in contrast to the estimated 600 million people across Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Pacific Islands region who remain offline or under-connected. Rural and remote communities have even less access than urban populations. 

This paper argues Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology can help close Indo-Pacific connectivity gaps, but prohibitive costs mean the technology’s value lies in applications that target remote communities, disaster resilience and high-value niche uses. It notes supportive regional policies and governance will be crucial to bridging the digital divide, managing risks and leveraging international financial support.

Policy recommendations

1. Establish forward-looking regulatory frameworks.
2. Integrate LEO satellites into national digital strategies.
3. Build affordability mechanisms.
4. Develop frameworks for strategic provider evaluation.
5. Accelerate regional coordination.
6. Invest in complementary infrastructure and capacity.
7. Align LEO deployments with climate and development funding.

The paper is provided with an audio option.