Elon Musk has once again jumped into the heated geopolitical situation, as Starlink steps in to provide free broadband internet to users in Venezuela until February 3, following U.S. airstrikes and the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
In a release on Sunday, the satellite internet provider shared that service credits were being added to both active and inactive accounts in Venezuela as it monitors the evolving situation and regulatory changes. "While we do not yet have a timeline for local purchase availability, any updates will be communicated directly through official Starlink channels," the company stated.
According to a government statement, Washington's actions on January 3 primarily focused on regions within the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, while also affecting the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. After the airstrikes, reports suggested that parts of Caracas experienced power and internet outages. Additionally, some local media reported that Miranda faced outages over the weekend.
Starlink, a branch of the aerospace firm SpaceX, offers internet connectivity via satellites in low Earth orbit and necessitates that users buy distinct equipment to access the service.
Starlink’s website lists Venezuela as "coming soon," indicating no formal launch, though some users are already active. It’s unclear how services or pricing will change after Feb. 3. The temporary offer of free internet could help provide connectivity amid the fallout from recent U.S. airstrikes and the capture of Maduro for trial.
President Donald Trump of the United States has declared that the U.S. will supervise Venezuela's transition, although specifics are still vague due to worries about a potential power vacuum. Additionally, the president revealed on Saturday that Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was inaugurated following Maduro's arrest.
Venezuela is the latest conflict zone where Starlink has been deployed. The satellite service previously supported Ukraine’s communication needs during Russia’s invasion in 2022. While praised for its role in Ukraine, concerns have been raised about Musk’s influence over wartime internet access, especially after it was revealed he blocked coverage in Russian-annexed Crimea to prevent a drone attack.
In response, the U.S. Department of Defense began overseeing Starlink’s activities in Ukraine, making SpaceX a formal military contractor. Starlink has also been used to bypass internet censorship in countries like Iran and Venezuela, where government restrictions are common.
As Starlink grows, geopolitical tensions rise, with China and the EU backing domestic alternatives, such as SpaceSail and Guowang satellites.