Starlink is giving free broadband internet access to users in Venezuela until February 3. The company made an announcement that it has added service credits to accounts so people can get online without paying during this period. The update applies to customers who already use the service and to people whose accounts were inactive.
Active customers do not need to do anything… Starlink said the credits appear automatically in the billing section of each account. This allows users to stay connected during a tense period in the country.
People who paused their service or lost access because of payment problems can also benefit. Starlink said it added credits to those accounts as well, letting users turn their connection back on for free until the deadline.
Who Can Use The Service And How Does It Work?
Starlink explained that anyone who already owns a Starlink kit can use it in Venezuela through a roaming plan. The company refers to this option as Roam, which lets equipment work outside the usual service area. Users can select this plan inside their account.
The satellite internet network runs through low earth orbit satellites. Starlink is a unit of SpaceX and requires users to buy separate hardware to connect. The firm did however mention that local sales of the equipment are not open in Venezuela at this stage.
On its availability map, Starlink lists Venezuela as coming soon. The company said it does not have a date for local purchase access. Any update would come through official Starlink channels and appear on its website.
The company also said that it is keeping watch on changing conditions and rules in the country. The company did not say how pricing or access might change after February 3.
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Why Is This Happening Now?
The free service comes after recent events in Venezuela. According to the company update reported, the move followed U.S. airstrikes and the capture of ousted leader Nicolás Maduro.
Starlink said the free credits are meant to help people stay connected during this period. The firm did not go into detail about future steps or long term access.
Its also unclear what will happen once the free period ends. Starlink said only that any news about services after February 3 would come through its official channels. The company said, “We are actively monitoring evolving conditions and regulatory requirements. While we do not have yet have a timeline for local purchase availability, if and when there are updates they will be communicated directly through official Starlink channels and reflected on this page.”
Lawrence Rosenberg, CEO & Founder at Rosenberg.Media commented on the matter:
“Elon’s offer to give Starlink to Venezuela has become par the course for him – providing free connectivity to subjugated people. It’s obviously great PR, but frankly, whilst he obviously cares about his personal image, I don’t think Elon particularly cares about traditional PR (most of the time), so it comes across as a genuine passion for supporting Venezuelans.
“This isn’t the first time he’s done this, and he’s offering people the ability to connect with each other through what has become a vital medium for communication, especially during tumultuous periods. Venezuela also has pretty appalling clamps on online free speech through their CONATEL telecoms regulator, so hopefully Starlink offers an opportunity to bypass that.”
