Elon Musk’s Starlink to provide free internet in Venezuela amid outages

WASHINGTON: Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, has announced a limited-time free internet service in Venezuela amid ongoing internet outages.

The announcement comes as Venezuela faces severe political unrest, military operations, and ongoing restrictions that have left large parts of the country disconnected from the online world. In the capital, Caracas, and other major cities, many residents currently lack internet access, disrupting daily life, businesses, and communication.

Starlink said it will provide free broadband service until February 3, aiming to keep Venezuelans connected during this critical period. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the company stressed its commitment to continuous connectivity and highlighted the challenges posed by heavy online censorship in the country.

The company noted that the Venezuelan government has previously blocked platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, affecting public discourse, journalism, and freedom of expression. Analysts say Starlink’s move is more than just a technical solution—it is a humanitarian effort to ensure citizens can access information and maintain connections in the face of outages.

With Starlink stepping in, Venezuelans now have an essential tool to stay informed and connected during one of the country’s most disruptive internet blackouts in recent years.