Outlook Business Desk
Elon Musk’s Starlink is providing free broadband internet in Venezuela through February 3. The move comes after US airstrikes and the capture of ousted leader Nicolás Maduro, helping residents stay connected during political turmoil.
The company said service credits are being applied to both active and inactive accounts. This temporary extension ensures that Venezuelans can access the internet uninterrupted while the situation continues to evolve.
Starlink, part of SpaceX, provides broadband via low-earth-orbit satellites. Users must purchase special equipment to connect, but the company’s service allows residents to stay online even during power and network disruptions.
Starlink’s availability map lists Venezuela as “coming soon,” yet users can access the network through a roaming plan. The company has not confirmed when equipment will be available for local purchase.
The free service aims to maintain internet access after US military operations, which caused partial outages in Caracas and nearby states. The extension ensures communication lines remain open amid uncertainty.
On January 3, US forces carried out airstrikes targeting Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira. Local reports indicated widespread power and internet outages following the strikes.
Following Maduro’s arrest, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in to lead the country temporarily. The US has warned that further action could follow if the new leadership fails to stabilise the situation.
The U.N. Security Council will hold a meeting on January 6 to debate the legality of US military actions. Several countries, including Brazil and Spain, have already criticised the strikes as violations of sovereignty.