STAR Network (also marketed as STAR The BLUE Network or BLUE Mobile Network) is a Trinidad & Tobago–based device manufacturer and distributor offering smartphones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, and smartwatches. The company collaborates with licensed telecommunications operators to bundle devices with lawful connectivity services. STAR does not operate its own mobile network, nor does it provide public telecommunications services.
Business Model & Partnership With Digicel
In 2023, STAR Network entered a commercial collaboration with Digicel, a fully licensed telecommunications operator. Under this arrangement, Digicel supplied all mobile connectivity and network services, while STAR bundled these services with its devices as part of promotional packages.
Media coverage often mischaracterized this alliance as STAR attempting to operate a new mobile network. However, the arrangement was simply:
The partnership involved approximately 10,000 Digicel SIMs with bundled data and voice, valued at more than TTD $100 million. High public demand resulted in large crowds at STAR’s launch venue.
2023 Launch & What Actually Happened (Contrary to Media Reports)
In June 2023, STAR scheduled a promotional launch at Invaders Bay Tower in Port of Spain under the promotional name “BLUE Mobile Network.” The event featured heavily discounted device bundles aimed at families, students, and first-time technology buyers.
Regulatory Clarification — Not a Shutdown
During the event, the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) visited the venue to verify compliance. TATT publicly confirmed that:
TATT explicitly agreed that STAR’s device-bundling model did not violate any telecommunications laws, since all connectivity came from Digicel under Digicel’s licences.
Why the Launch Was Cancelled
Contrary to circulating misinformation:
Instead, due to unexpectedly large crowds—hundreds of customers seeking the $1 promotional devices—the building owners requested that the event be stopped and relocated for safety and capacity reasons. The cancellation was therefore a venue/crowd management issue, not a regulatory action.
Post-Launch Direction
After the aborted launch, STAR clarified publicly that it is not a mobile operator or MVNO. Its business model is a partner-network approach:
STAR subsequently pivoted to bundling its devices with fixed-line and home-internet services from licensed telecommunications partners, focusing on household data needs.
Company leadership noted that launching a full mobile network with towers and national coverage would require investments nearing USD $500 million—well outside the scope of STAR’s intended business model.
Public & Media Perception
Early marketing references to “Mobile Network” contributed to public misunderstanding. Some outlets reported that STAR intended to operate its own network, despite the company never making such a claim.
The $1 device offer attracted major crowds, and the cancellation created frustration among attendees. Media analysis later noted that the strategy was a creative commercial initiative involving Digicel, rather than an attempt to establish a new telecom operator.
Regulatory and Legal Context
Under Trinidad & Tobago’s Telecommunications Act (Chap. 47:31), operating a public telecommunications service requires a government concession. STAR never applied for such a concession and never attempted to operate independently of Digicel’s licensed network.
TATT publicly reaffirmed STAR’s legal compliance and the legitimacy of Digicel’s role as the underlying service provider.
Current Status
As of 2023 onward, STAR Network continues to offer:
There is no evidence of STAR operating a mobile network or providing unlicensed telecommunications services.
Given its significant media attention, consumer interest, and prominent partnership model, STAR remains a notable commercial collaborator in the national telecommunications and consumer-electronics market.