Starlink to provide free internet to Venezuelans

SpaceX announced that residents of Venezuela will have free access to its Starlink satellite internet service until February 3, the company said on its official X account.

According to the statement, Starlink technology can provide broadband internet virtually anywhere on the planet, Caliber.Az reports.

“Starlink is offering free broadband internet service to residents of Venezuela until February 3, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity,” the company said.

The announcement comes in the wake of a U.S. military operation in Venezuela earlier this week that captured President Nicolás Maduro, highlighting the potential role of satellite internet in maintaining communications during times of political and social disruption.

The offer comes one day after the January 3 U.S.-led Operation Absolute Resolve, which involved airstrikes on military targets and a precision raid extracting Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, for trial in New York on narco-terrorism charges. Reports of internet blackouts, power disruptions, and restricted state media access have emerged in parts of Caracas and other cities amid the declared state of emergency.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has accused the U.S. of "broader aggression," while opposition groups praise the potential for uncensored communication. Elon Musk, SpaceX's founder and a vocal supporter of President Trump, has previously criticized Maduro's regime and promoted Starlink as a tool for free information flow in restricted environments.

By Khagan Isayev