Elon Musk announces free Starlink services for Venezuela

Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk on Sunday announced that his satellite internet service Starlink will provide free broadband access to the people of Venezuela for one month to ensure uninterrupted connectivity amid the ongoing crisis in the country.

Musk shared the announcement on the social media platform X, saying the move was made “in support of the people of Venezuela.”

The Starlink network, which operates through a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites, is expected to help maintain internet access during a period of political and security uncertainty. “Starlink is providing free broadband service to the people of Venezuela through February 3, ensuring continued connectivity,” it said in a post on X.

The announcement came shortly after Musk publicly welcomed the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a US military operation that was sanctioned by US President Donald Trump.

Reacting to the development, Musk said Venezuela could finally move toward prosperity with Maduro no longer in power. He made the comment in Spanish, writing that Venezuela can now have the prosperity it deserves.

Musk’s reaction did not come as a surprise, as he has been a long-time and vocal critic of the Maduro government.

Over the past few years, the billionaire has repeatedly called for political change in Venezuela, blaming the country’s economic collapse on government policies.