Starlink offers free internet in Venezuela after U.S. strikes, Maduro arrest

Elon Musk’s Starlink is offering free broadband internet service to users in Venezuela until February 3, following US airstrikes and the capture of ousted leader Nicolas Maduro.

The satellite internet provider said: It will be published on Sunday It said service credits are being proactively added to both active and inactive accounts while monitoring evolving conditions and regulatory requirements.

“As we do this [not yet have] “A timeline for local purchasing availability, if there are updates they will be delivered directly via official Starlink channels,” he added.

Starlink, a subsidiary of aerospace company SpaceX, provides internet access via satellites in low-earth orbit and requires users to purchase separate equipment to connect to the service.

The availability map on Starlink’s website lists Venezuela as “coming soon” and shows that the company has not officially launched service there, although some users indicate it is already active.

Increasing free internet services in the country could help provide connectivity amid recent U.S. airstrikes and a ground raid to capture Maduro and extradite him to face trial on charges including narco-terrorism and election rigging.

According to the statement made by the government, while Washington’s operations on January 3 mostly targeted areas in Venezuela’s capital Caracas, attacks were also carried out in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.

After the air strikes, I. reports He stated that some areas of Caracas had lost power and internet connection. Some local sales points also reported Miranda experienced outages over the weekend.

US President Donald Trump stated that the US will oversee Venezuela’s transition process, but details remain unclear due to concerns about the power vacuum.

The president also said Saturday that Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in following Maduro’s arrest, but threatened a second attack Against Venezuela if the leadership “doesn’t act”.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council plans to hold a meeting on January 6 to discuss the legality of US action as countries, including US allies. Brazil And Spaincondemned the military actions.

Venezuela is far from the first conflict zone where Starlink was deployed. In a similar incident in Ukraine, a satellite service was launched to replace the internet and communication networks damaged by Russia’s invasion.

Although Starlink initially provided internet services in Ukraine largely at its own expense, its operations have been funded under a contract with the US Department of Defense since June 2023.

Starlink did not disclose how many users it has in Venezuela or how much it costs to provide the service.