After Maduro's arrest, Musk's "Starlink" claims to provide one month of free broadband service to Venezuela
On January 3rd, Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, announced via social media that it would provide free internet service to Venezuela until February 3rd. This follows airstrikes by the U.S. military that caused power and internet outages in some areas of Venezuela. Starlink had not previously operated officially in Venezuela, and this time it proactively added service credits for both active and inactive accounts. Starlink did not disclose the number of local users or the cost of the free service
After the United States launched military action against Venezuela and captured President Maduro, Starlink, owned by Musk, announced it would provide free internet service to the country until February 3.
According to Xinhua News Agency report on January 4, Starlink stated on social media on January 3 that it would provide free broadband service to the Venezuelan people to ensure uninterrupted internet connectivity. The company claimed it is proactively adding service credits to both active and inactive accounts while monitoring the local changing situation and regulatory requirements.
Previously, on January 3, the United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela, raiding the capital Caracas and capturing Maduro and his wife. According to a statement from the Venezuelan government, following the airstrikes, some areas of Caracas experienced power outages and internet disruptions.
Media reports indicate that U.S. President Trump stated he would oversee the transition process in Venezuela and announced that Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in after Maduro's capture, while simultaneously threatening that if the Venezuelan leadership did not "play by the rules," a second strike would be launched against the country.
The United Nations Security Council plans to hold a meeting on January 6 to discuss the legality of the U.S. actions, with several countries, including Brazil and Spain, condemning the military operation.
Service Details and Market Layout
The service map on the Starlink official website shows Venezuela as "coming soon," indicating that the company has not yet officially launched services in the area, although some users are already active.
Starlink stated in its announcement that there is currently no timeline for local service purchases, and any updates will be communicated directly through official channels.
Starlink is a subsidiary of SpaceX, providing internet access through low Earth orbit satellites, and users must purchase separate equipment to connect to the service.
The company did not disclose the number of users in Venezuela as of January 3, nor did it reveal the potential costs of providing free services. Currently, internet connectivity in Venezuela is generally normal
